The Athletics finished with a winning record (86-76) for the fourth straight season, but their three-year playoff run ended in 2021. Oakland has had six trips to the postseason over the past decade. The A’s last appearance in the World Series came in 1990. Their franchise had nine World Series titles (Philadelphia A’s – 1910, 1911, 1913, 1929, and 1930 ~ Oakland A’s – 1972, 1973, 1974, and 1989).
Oakland slipped to 13th in ERA (4.02), partly due to regression in their bullpen (29 wins, 24 losses, and 39 saves with a 4.21 ERA – 18th). The A’s ranked 10th in runs (743), 13th in home runs (199), and eighth in stolen bases (88). Their Moneyball theme failed to execute, based on their weaker on-base percentage (.317 – 14th).
In mid-November, the Athletics acquired SP Brent Honeywell in a minor deal with Tampa Bay for cash. However, injuries have derailed his career from 2018 to 2020. Oakland lost OF Starling Marte (NYM), OF Mark Canha (NYM), C Yan Gomes (CHC), RP Trevor Rosenthal, RP Jake Diekman, RP Sergio Romo, and RP Yusmeiro Petit to free agency. All players added came via minor league deals.
