Written By Mauricio Segura // Image Created By: The Golden Bay Times Graphics Dept.
FEB 26, 2025
The 2025 season was supposed to be a bridge, a brief stop before a new ballpark in Las Vegas. Instead, what unfolded at West Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park felt like a full coming of age story with missteps, momentum swings, and genuine progress. After decades in the Bay Area, the Athletics opened a new chapter in Sacramento and showed enough growth to make 2026 more than just another rebuilding year.
The numbers show steady improvement. The A’s finished 76-86 in 2025, a noticeable step forward from their 69-93 record in their final season in Oakland and good for fourth place in the American League West. That record did not threaten the division leaders, but it also did not resemble a club stuck in permanent rebuild mode. Under manager Mark Kotsay, the team competed more consistently and played meaningful baseball deeper into the season.
The Sacramento debut was not smooth. The inaugural home game at Sutter Health Park ended in an 18-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Attendance for much of the year ranked near the bottom of Major League Baseball, showing that even in a new market, fan investment takes time. Still, total attendance reportedly surpassed 1.1 million for the season, an impressive number considering the team was playing in a ballpark originally designed for Triple A baseball.
On the field, the biggest source of hope came from the young core. Nick Kurtz quickly established himself as a legitimate major league bat and became one of the most exciting pieces of the rebuild. Jacob Wilson and other emerging players flashed offensive upside that had been missing in recent seasons. The lineup, once thin and inconsistent, began to show depth and resilience.
Pitching and defense, however, remain the swing factors. Defensive metrics placed the A’s among the lower tier in the league, with negative Defensive Runs Saved and too many costly errors. On the mound, the rotation showed promise but lacked consistency, and the bullpen struggled to protect late leads. Projections entering 2026 suggest the staff could be serviceable, but not dominant. In a division that includes perennial contenders, average pitching rarely translates into playoff security.
The unique environment in Sacramento also played a role. Sutter Health Park was never intended to host a full major league schedule, and its layout, clubhouse configuration, and daytime conditions created an unusual home field dynamic. As the season progressed, the team adjusted and began to look more comfortable. For 2026, the goal will be turning that temporary setting into a genuine advantage rather than a novelty.
The offseason has reflected cautious optimism. The organization has emphasized development and internal growth while seeking incremental improvements rather than dramatic overhauls. The return of Bob Melvin to the organization as a special assistant adds experienced perspective. Melvin guided previous A’s teams to postseason appearances and understands how to shape young rosters into competitive units.
So what would it take for the Athletics to reach the postseason in 2026?
First, the pitching must take a measurable step forward. The rotation needs at least two dependable arms capable of delivering quality starts consistently, and the bullpen must solidify the late innings. Close games often determine Wild Card races, and the A’s lost too many tight contests in 2025.
Second, defensive improvement is essential. Young players must translate athleticism into reliability. Cleaner fundamentals can easily swing several games over a long season.
Third, health and depth will matter. A season of 162 games demands reinforcements. Injuries exposed thin spots last year. That margin for error must shrink.
Finally, Sacramento needs to feel like a true baseball town. Increased attendance and sustained fan energy can influence momentum over the long grind of summer. Not much of that was addressed in 2025, but for 2026, the A's will have certain Saturday games where they will feature special Sacramento Jerseys as well as city based giveaways.
The A’s are not favorites to win the American League West in 2026. That reality is clear. But a Wild Card berth is not unrealistic if growth continues at its current pace and a few key areas improve. Also, post season in 2025 could have been achieved (The season ending numbers proved it), had the Athletics not hit a 1-20 drought between May and June. After years of uncertainty and relocation drama, the franchise finally appears to have direction. Whether that direction leads to October will depend on how quickly promise turns into performance.
