Oakland isn't good, but they have some pieces
While I don't expect Seattle to go 12-1 against the Athletics this season, it was another good series win against a divisional opponent. With the win, the Mariners now move to 6-3 against the AL West, and have not played the lowly Mike Trout-less Angels.
It will take more blue-chip talent for the A’s to climb out of the mess their ownership has put them in, but that doesn't mean the cupboard is empty. On the lineup side, Abraham Toro is having his best season yet and may turn into a valuable depth piece for a contender at the deadline.
The real star though, has been Brent Rooker. After making his first all-star game last season, the twenty-nine-year-old OF/DH has only gotten better in 2024. Through 30 games, Rooker is slashing .292/.380/1.012 with 10 home runs and six doubles. Rooker, who has shown Seattle some love, was an absolute menace during the three-game series and looks to be a real problem going forward.
He provides some of that “light-tower” power that is needed to overcome whatever limitations T-Mobile Park brings, and he's under contract through 2027. While he would come at a massive cost with trade assets, he is also arbitration eligible after the season, which could begin the motivation by Oakland to move him. I don't expect a deal to get done this summer, but he's a name to watch over the next two years.