Athletics Left Fielder Brent Rooker is aiming for a third straight stellar season. He had the best season of his MLB career in 2024 finishing 10th in American League MVP voting and winning his first Silver Slugger Award. Rooker finished the season 11th in batting average, tied for 5th in home runs, tied for 4th in RBI, and 8th in OPS. Rooker became the first A’s player to finish a season with a batting average of at least .290, at least 30 home runs, and at least 100 RBI since Miguel Tejada’s 2002 American League MVP season.
Rooker played most of last season with a forearm injury that plagued him. He had a great 2024 on the heels of a 2023 season which was nearly as strong. He made his first All-Star appearance and hit 30 home runs for the first time in his career. According to Fan Graphs, Rooker is expected to be a crucial member of the Athletics team again in 2025. He is projected to finish in the top 10 in home runs and RBIÂ this season. Will Rooker be able to lead the Athletics to success on the diamond in 2025?
Athletics Offseason Summary
Brent Rooker has hit 30+ home runs in consecutive seasons.
How many will he hit for the @Athletics in 2025? pic.twitter.com/WkGmGlIzbr
— MLB (@MLB) February 2, 2025
It was a tumultuous season for the club both on and off the field. The fans expressed their displeasure with Owner John Fisher after he announced the franchise would play in Sacramento beginning in 2025. It had been a rough few years between the city and the A’s as the building of a new stadium in Oakland never materialized. They will play in Sacramento before moving to Las Vegas for Opening Day 2028. Athletics fans throughout the season brandished signs imploring Fisher to sell the team.
Even though the franchise’s time in Oakland did not end well, it is a new era for the Athletics franchise. The franchise decided to have an active offseason, something they had not done in years. Their most consequential move was signing Starting Pitcher Luis Severino to a three-year $67 million contract in December. It was the largest guaranteed contract in Athletics franchise history.
Another savvy move by the franchise was signing Third Baseman Gio Urshela. He was signed to be the A’s starting third baseman for 2025. The final big move by the Sacramento-based ballclub was signing Rooker to a five-year $60 million contract extension. He was rewarded for his performance over the last two seasons. Rooker is viewed as a player the club wants to build around during their time in Sacramento and once they call Las Vegas home.
Final Thoughts
The franchise is looking to make the MLB Playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season. They have also finished below .500 for three straight seasons. While it is not practical for the Athletics to make the postseason in 2025, they have made some strides toward contention this offseason. Rooker has cemented himself as a franchise cornerstone for a franchise undergoing a seismic shift.
