After a 3-0 shutout loss to the Twins, the Oakland A's designated Seth Brown for assignment and initiated a major roster overhaul on June 23, 2025.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
If Sunday's feeble 3-0 shutout loss to the Minnesota Twins felt like rock bottom, Monday morning brought the aftershock. The Oakland Athletics front office initiated a massive roster overhaul, designating a fan favorite for assignment, placing key players on the injured list, and calling up a wave of prospects from Las Vegas in a clear signal that patience has run out and the future is now.
14 strikeouts over eight scoreless innings.
In a flurry of moves, the A's dramatically reshaped their active roster. Veteran outfielder and first baseman Seth Brown was designated for assignment, a tough pill to swallow for fans who have watched him since 2017. The team also placed infielder Gio Urshela on the 10-day IL with a strained hamstring and transferred second baseman Zack Gelof to the 60-day IL, officially sidelining him for the long term. In their places, the A's are injecting new blood, recalling LHP Jacob Lopez, infielder CJ Alexander, and outfielder Denzel Clarke from Triple-A, while also selecting catcher Willie MacIver and infielder Logan Davidson. To make room, RHP Carlos Duran, catcher Jhonny Pereda, and outfielder JJ Bleday were optioned to Las Vegas. It's a clear attempt to find a spark and evaluate younger talent amid a season spiraling out of control.
The roster shake-up came on the heels of a game that perfectly encapsulated the team's struggles. Twins ace Pablo López was practically untouchable, taking a perfect game into the sixth inning and mowing down A's hitters. He finished with a staggering 14 strikeouts over eight scoreless frames, allowing just two singles and a walk. Lawrence Butler finally broke up the perfecto with a two-out single, and Miguel Andujar added another hit, but that was the extent of the offense. Oakland starter Hogan Harris pitched admirably, allowing three runs over 6.1 innings, but with zero run support, it was a hopeless cause. The A's struck out 16 times as a team, looking completely overmatched.
Following the latest loss, the Athletics' record fell to 32-48. They sit firmly in 5th place in the AL West, and their playoff odds have dwindled to less than 0.1%, a statistical improbability. Manager Mark Kotsay is now tasked not with a playoff push, but with managing a clubhouse in constant flux. The season's narrative is no longer about competing in 2025; it's about enduring the growing pains and identifying which of these new faces can contribute when the team is ready to win again.
As the dust settles, the Athletics look like a different team than they did just 24 hours ago. The focus has decisively shifted from salvaging this season to evaluating who will be part of the franchise's future. For fans, the rest of the summer becomes a tryout period. Keep an eye on the new faces like Denzel Clarke and CJ Alexander. Wins may be scarce, but the search for future cornerstones is officially on.
