After spending the last year as sellers, the Oakland Athletics may be ready to start investing in their future with star outfielder Josh Reddick.
According to John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group, the Athletics and Reddick are ready to start discussions about a multiyear contract extension.
Continue for updates.
Reddick Part of Oakland's Future
Sunday, Jan. 24
When the offseason started, Reddick's name was suggested as a potential trade candidate because he's scheduled to become a free agent after 2016 and the team dealt Josh Donaldson, a young superstar who was four years away from free agency, to Toronto last winter.
In November, Oakland general manager Billy Beane told Peter Gammons of Gammons Daily he could not see the team trading Reddick or star pitcher Sonny Gray.
Earlier this month, the A's were able to avoid going to arbitration with Reddick by signing him to a one-year deal worth $6.575 million. The 28-year-old has had an erratic four-year run in Oakland, but he's been very good at his best.
Reddick missed a combined 101 games in 2013-14 and hit a total of 24 home runs as a result. In 2012 and 2015, he played a total of 315 games with 52 home runs and posted a career-high .333 on-base percentage last season.
The Athletics might be able to convince Reddick to accept a team-friendly deal because of his injury concerns, promising him financial security and a stable environment. But he could opt to bet on himself, hoping to have another strong season in 2016 and put himself in position to get a huge deal. It's a risky proposition that may have a resolution, one way or the other, before the regular season begins on April 4.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
- Login to post comments