Athletics leadership address 2026 season, collapse, postseason shakeup

9.29.26

Philadelphia Athletics franchise leadership faced the local media on Tuesday morning, answering a variety of questions regarding the team's 2026 performance, the late-season losing skid, and the shakeups that followed over the past week.

After being eliminated in the Wildcard Game, A's GM Matt Veasey dealt away starting pitchers Chris Sale, Zack Wheeler, George Kirby, and Bryan Woo, as well as pitchers Cristian Javier and Ryan Weathers, second baseman Ketel Marte, and outfielder Mike Trout among other pieces. 

Returns from those deals include pitchers Eury Perez, Aaron Nola, and Brody Hopkins, outfielder Walker Jenkins, prospect infielder Dax Kilby, and a number of draft picks.

Veasey led the presser along with his primary advisors, former A's managers Paul Molitor and Larry Bowa. The club's current manager Mark DeRosa and minor league coordinator and scouting director Matt Blood were also on hand.

Some highlights:

Retirements:

Both Bowa and Molitor announced their official retirements from the organization. The first two managers in franchise history and longtime advisors to the GM were each choked up as they spoke:

Bowa: "It's been an honor to play, coach and manage in front of these fans. Philly is a tough town. But they're also very knowledgeable and fair. I always busted my butt on the field and worked hard off the field to do everything that I could to help us win. I think the fans recognized it. I love the people in this organization. While I'm stepping back from regular involvement, you'll still see me around."

Molitor: "Getting the opportunity to manage here was a dream. And then to win the first championship in this organization's long and storied WFBL history was unforgettable. I want to thank Matt for that opportunity, thank my players from back in the day, and thank the fans for always supporting us. What an atmosphere we had when Liberty Bell opened. Now with the Navy Yard, I'll be looking forward to come to games on ceremonial occasions, but also just as a fan."

Both men have been honored with places in the Athletics Hall of Fame, Molitor as the founding member enshrined back in 2008 and Bowa enshrined in 2016.

On the late season collapse:

DeRosa: "These guys played their butts off and they worked hard right to the end. Week after week it just got more frustrating, but they kept grinding. No way that you can blame their work ethic. We just kept coming up short. It was damn hard to take at times."

Veasey: "I know that DeRo and his staff worked hard at trying to come up with answers. In the end, the players, especially our hitters, simply didn't come through. It was a problem for much of the year, frankly. That was one reason we felt that something had to change with the mix when it was all over."

On the post-season shakeup:

Veasey: "We scattered alot of talent around the league for sure. It was hard to say goodbye to any of them. Sale and Wheels were aces for us and delivered this year. Kirby was our most continuously tenured player after we drafted him back in 2019. And, of course, saying goodbye to Mike (Trout) might have been the toughest one."

Blood: "The young players and prospects that we brought back in these deals are very talented. We have every expectation that Jenkins, Perez, and Hopkins will be important pieces for us at the Majors level right away."

Veasey: "We simply felt a need to find some younger, talented pieces. I promised the fans that we wouldn't go through another rebuild. This isn't a rebuild at all. We fully intend to compete for a championship next season and hopefully for years to come."