Elephant Rumblings: Big paydays for ex-A’s starters

Happy Monday, Athletics Nation!

The tumult set off by the Sean Murphy trade seems to be subsiding a bit, and there hasn’t been a lot of A’s news since last week’s signing of free agent Trevor May.

Meanwhile, other free agents continue to be taken off the board by teams around the league, including our old friend Chris Bassitt, who scooped up a pretty sweet payday—more than twice that of ex-teammate Sean Manaea, who will also be playing for his third team in as many years. Mind you, I’m not suggesting $25 million is anything I’d sneeze at.

Bassitt had a solid 2022 season with the Mets, pitching a career-high 181⅔ innings with a 3.66 FIP. His reward will be $63 million from the Toronto Blue Jays over the next three years.

Manaea, on the other hand, demonstrates why the A’s emphasis on starting pitching prospects might not be such a bad rebuild strategy. He recorded a career-worst 4.53 FIP with the Padres last season, but the Giants signed him to a two year, $25 million contract anyway. Eno Sarris offered some thoughts on how Manaea might get his groove back in 2023.

Presumably, the A’s front office has more moves to make this offseason, but for the moment I can only blindly speculate as to what may happen next. If you happen to be privy to some trade chatter that has eluded me, by all means dish it up below! I’m up for a holiday surprise.

A’s Coverage:

• Nico: Trying To Make Sense Of The Sean Murphy Deal
• Ashford: A’s sign Trevor May
• Ahram: KBO’s Hanwha Eagles Sign Burch Smith

MLB News & Interest:

• Fegan: White Sox, Andrew Benintendi agree to 5-year, $75 million contract: Source ($)
• Sammon: Can the Mets finally become sustainable winners after staggering spending spree? ($)
• Ahram and Polishuk: Astros To Re-Sign Michael Brantley
• Polishuk: Red Sox Agree To Sign Justin Turner
• Adams: Blue Jays To Sign Chris Bassitt
• Deeds and Adams: Giants Sign Sean Manaea
• Polishuk: Dodgers To Sign J.D. Martinez
• Polishuk: Cubs Finalizing Contract With Dansby Swanson
• McDonald: Twins To Sign Joey Gallo To One-Year Deal
• Adams and McDonald: Red Sox Designate Eric Hosmer For Assignment
• Langs: Rogers twins 10th such pair in MLB history
• Franco: Brett Anderson Seeking Return To MLB
• Today in Baseball History

Best of Twitter:

Roster moves.

Good outing for Luis Medina last Friday.

A second farewell in as many years for CBass.

Easy to be overlooked on a team with so many legends.

The Hal set.