The Athletics are flat out refusing to trade their All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers, a move that’s shaking up the trade market, especially for some desperate AL East teams. This isn’t just some rumor mill chatter either. Despite the A’s season turning into a full-blown disaster since June 1, dropping them with a dismal 15-26 record over their last 41 games and straight out of any playoff contention, they’re holding firm. You’d think they’d be ready to sell anything not nailed down, right? Not so fast.
A’s Say NO: Langeliers Is Untouchable, For Now
Look, everyone knows the A’s are obvious sellers at this year’s deadline. But don’t hold your breath expecting their top position player to be on the move. ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel are practically laughing at the idea, giving Langeliers a measly 10% chance of being traded. That’s a strong statement. According to them, while the A’s will always “listen,” they’ve told teams point-blank they have “zero desire to trade Langeliers.” We’re talking about a guy who’s arguably the best catcher in the entire big leagues, so it’s not like they’re holding onto some scrub. Yeah, their pitching has dragged them down, and moving him would bring back a “whale of a package” of arms they desperately need, considering he’s got multiple years of control. But the A’s are looking ahead to 2028, clearly wanting him to be a cornerstone of their anticipated move to Las Vegas.
The Langeliers Numbers Are Just Filthy
When you look at the raw numbers, it’s easy to see why the A’s are so stubborn. Langeliers is having a monster year, blasting 22 home runs and sporting a ridiculous 120 OPS+ through just 90 games. That kind of production from behind the plate is rare, electric even. He’s not just a good catcher, he’s a game-changer. So, while it makes sense for the A’s to listen on *any* player, his value is through the roof, and they’re betting on his future in a big way for their new market.
Yankees and Rays Left Scrambling
Now, this firm stance from the A’s is absolutely terrible news for AL East division rivals, the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. Both clubs are in dire need of an upgrade at catcher. The Yankees’ Austin Wells has had a straight-up “terrible offensive year,” leaving a gaping hole in their lineup. And down in Tampa Bay, Nick Fortes and Hunter Feduccia are just splitting time, basically backup options trying to fill a starting role. They were undoubtedly eyeing Langeliers as the answer, a serious bat to boost their lineups. With the trade deadline looming, and the A’s holding their ground on Langeliers, both the Yankees and Rays are now left scrambling to find another solution behind the plate. It’s gonna be wild to see who they pivot to, but one thing’s for sure: the market just got a whole lot tougher for them.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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