“I can tell you [payroll] will be higher,” said owner John Fisher Evan Drellich of The Athletic. “That is something we continue to work on internally. Ultimately, our goal is to put the best team on the field, and payroll is an important part of that..”
Fisher took a step toward that promise on Christmas Day, when the club went into lockdown Tyler Soderstrom on a seven-year, $86 million extension. The 24-year-old outfielder will now be under team control during his age-31 season. Of Shea Langeliers just participate in arbitration, and Jacob Wilson And Nick Kurtz still in the pre-arbitration phase, the Athletics have their batting core in place for the foreseeable future.
The athletics club barely topped $50 million in 2022 Grid source. That number rose to $59 million in 2023, and then $63 million in 2024. Last year’s $79 million pales in comparison to most other teams in the league, but the upward trend for the franchise continued. The Athletics’ estimated figure is currently $99 million for 2026.
While not all the expenses have worked out (Leclerc missed most of the season due to injury, Severino struggled mightily at home), the Athletics still put together one of their better seasons this decade. The club finished 76-86 and reached 70 wins for the first time since 2021. They finished the season with a 35-29 mark. Kurtz achieved AL Rookie of the Year honors. Langeliers put together a tremendous offensive season. Denzel Clarke was a fixture in the ESPN Top 10 with his work in center field. “It was everything we hoped it would be and more,” Fisher said of the 2025 results.
The current architect of the selection is only under contract until 2026, but that could change quickly. Fisher said the club is in discussions with general manager David Forst. “I’m really proud of the work he’s done, and how well we work together, and we continue to have conversations about the future, and those conversations are continuing..”
Forst’s previous contract expired at the end of the 2025 campaign. Shortly after the end of the season, reports emerged that he would be back for 2026, although details of a new deal were not available. Fisher’s comments indicate the teams are working on something beyond next season.
Forst has been with the organization for 25 years. He first came on board as a scout in 2000. Forst took over as GM in 2022, with legendary executive Billy Beane in an advisory role. He has had to deal with a lengthy renovation, a city change and home games in a minor league stadium. Despite the challenges, Forst ensures that the team is moving in the right direction. The recent extensions and general willingness to spend higher should give the club a chance to reach the postseason for the first time since the shortened 2020 season.
Photo courtesy of D. Ross Cameron, Imagn Images
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