As of November 5, 2026, the A's have hired Taylor Smith as president of baseball operations and Cam Castro as general manager, traded prospect Jareth Rayo to Boston for Nate Eaton, outrighted six players to Triple-A Las Vegas, declined options on Jeffrey Springs and Jeff McNeil, and Luis Severino is reported to be exercising his $22 million player option.
The A's 2027 offseason so far comes down to six moves. They hired Taylor Smith to run baseball operations on October 19 and Cam Castro as general manager on November 4, traded pitching prospect Jareth Rayo to Boston for Nate Eaton, outrighted six players to Triple-A, declined options on Jeffrey Springs and Jeff McNeil, and Luis Severino is reportedly opting into his $22 million deal.
This is a living tracker. We will add each new trade, signing and roster move to the top of the list below as it becomes official, with a link to the source. For the players these moves are built around, see our 2026 A's roster page.
- Front office: Taylor Smith, 31, is president of baseball operations. Cam Castro, 36, hired from the Brewers on November 4, is general manager under him.
- Trades: one. The A's acquired OF/3B Nate Eaton from the Red Sox for Minor League RHP Jareth Rayo.
- Options: Jeffrey Springs and Jeff McNeil declined, both now free agents. Luis Severino reported to be exercising his $22 million player option.
- Roster cuts: six players outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas.
- Free agent signings: none yet.
- Next big date: the collective bargaining agreement expires December 1, 2026.
What Moves Have the A's Made This Offseason?
Here is every move so far, newest first. Dates are when the move was announced or first reported.
| Date | Move |
|---|---|
| Nov. 4, 2026 | Cam Castro, 36, senior vice president of player development and performance for the World Series champion Brewers, is named general manager, working under Taylor Smith, as reported by ESPN. Our profile covers who Cam Castro is and what he means for the A's pitching. |
| Oct. 31, 2026 | RHP Luis Severino will exercise his $22 million player option for 2027, as reported by MLB Trade Rumors (first reported by Mike Rodriguez of Rompiendo Sports). We have not yet seen a team announcement. |
| Oct. 30, 2026 | The A's decline their 2027 club options on LHP Jeffrey Springs and INF/OF Jeff McNeil. Both become free agents. |
| Oct. 29, 2026 | RHPs Henry Baez, Joey Estes and Geoff Hartlieb, C Brian Serven, INF Michael Stefanic and OF Johnathan Rodriguez clear waivers and are outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas. |
| Oct. 29, 2026 | The A's acquire OF/3B Nate Eaton from the Red Sox for Minor League RHP Jareth Rayo, the first trade of the MLB offseason. |
| Oct. 19, 2026 | Taylor Smith, formerly a senior vice president and assistant general manager with the Red Sox, is named president of baseball operations. |
Who Is Taylor Smith, the A's New Head of Baseball Operations?
The A's announced on October 19, 2026 that Taylor Smith had been hired as president of baseball operations, putting him in charge of the club's baseball strategy and operations ahead of the move to Las Vegas in 2028, MLB.com reported.
Smith is 31, which MLB.com says makes him the youngest head of baseball operations in MLB. He spent seven seasons in the Rays' research and development group before joining the Red Sox in 2024, where he oversaw baseball research and development, including analytics, sciences, systems and technology. He is a native of Woodstock, Georgia, and holds joint bachelor's and master's degrees in statistics and a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Georgia.
In the team's statement, owner John Fisher named Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, Lawrence Butler, Tyler Soderstrom, Jacob Wilson and Henry Bolte as the returning core. Smith pointed to the club's past: "The Athletics changed the way baseball thinks about building a team, and their pioneering work during the Moneyball era opened the door to my own career in the game." That history is the subject of our piece on the Moneyball legacy and Las Vegas.
What does Smith's hire mean for David Forst?
Forst was already gone before Smith arrived. According to MLB.com, the A's parted ways with Forst, their general manager, on August 7, 2026, ending an 11-year tenure, and named assistant general manager Dan Feinstein interim GM. Smith takes over the top baseball job that Forst had held since Billy Beane moved to an advisory role after the 2022 season, per MLB Trade Rumors.
Update, November 5: the GM question is answered. The A's hired Cam Castro from the Brewers as general manager on November 4, 2026. The rest of this section describes the picture as of early November. MLB Trade Rumors reported that Fisher suggested at Smith's introductory press conference that the club could also hire a general manager as the No. 2 executive. MLB.com wrote that it remains to be seen whether Feinstein or fellow longtime assistant GMs Billy Owens and Rob Naberhaus stay in their roles. In an MLB.com Q&A, Smith said he is still getting an understanding of the organization's strengths before deciding on additions.
Manager Mark Kotsay is not changing. MLB Trade Rumors notes his extension runs through 2028 with a club option for 2029, and Smith told MLB.com that from their early conversations, Kotsay "seems like someone who is hungry for all the information we can get him."
Who Did the A's Get in the Nate Eaton Trade?
The A's got the major leaguer. On October 29, 2026, the A's acquired outfielder and third baseman Nate Eaton from the Red Sox and sent Minor League right-hander Jareth Rayo to Boston, MLB.com reported. It came less than 24 hours after the World Series ended and was the first trade of the offseason across MLB, as well as the first official move since Smith's hire. Smith worked in Boston's front office from 2024 to 2026, so he knows Eaton well.
Eaton, 29, played 24 games for Boston in 2026 and hit .160 with a .300 on-base percentage, a .260 slugging percentage, one home run, two doubles and six RBIs, figures that match his Baseball-Reference page. He can play all three outfield spots and some third base. His value is speed and defense: MLB Trade Rumors notes Statcast put his sprint speed in the 96th percentile this year and that he has 25 steals in 28 career attempts. MLB Trade Rumors adds that he has exhausted his final option year. MLB.com expects him to mainly add outfield depth at Triple-A, while MLB Trade Rumors sees him competing for a bench spot.
Rayo, 18, signed with the A's out of Nicaragua during the 2024-25 international signing period. In 2026 he made 11 appearances (nine starts) in the Dominican Summer League, with a 5.50 ERA, 36 strikeouts and 20 walks in 36 innings.
Which Six Players Did the A's Outright to Triple-A?
The A's 2027 offseason so far comes down to six moves.
On the same day as the Eaton trade, the A's announced that six players cleared waivers and were outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas:
- RHP Henry Baez
- RHP Joey Estes
- RHP Geoff Hartlieb
- C Brian Serven
- INF Michael Stefanic
- OF Johnathan Rodriguez
The point was 40-man roster space. MLB Trade Rumors wrote that RosterResource had projected the A's offseason count at 46 before the Eaton trade, and that these six moves bring it down to 41. Teams need the room because the injured list goes away after the World Series and players on the 60-day IL have to return to the 40-man roster. MLB Trade Rumors also notes that several of the six have the right to elect free agency or will qualify for minor league free agency, so not all of them will necessarily stay in the organization. Triple-A Las Vegas is the Aviators, and our look at what happens to the Aviators when the A's arrive covers that relationship.
Why Did the A's Decline Jeffrey Springs' and Jeff McNeil's Options?
The A's announced on October 30, 2026 that they had declined both 2027 club options, and both players became free agents. Athletics Nation called both decisions unsurprising, since each option was worth more than $15 million and both veterans had down years.
Jeffrey Springs
Springs' option was worth $15 million with a $750,000 buyout, per MLB Trade Rumors. The left-hander, acquired from the Rays in December 2024, had a 4.11 ERA over 171 innings in 2025. In 2026 he went 4-14 with a 6.18 ERA in 29 starts and 142 2/3 innings, and allowed 35 home runs, according to Baseball-Reference. Both MLB Trade Rumors and Athletics Nation note that 23 of those homers came at Sutter Health Park. Athletics Nation points out he still led the team in starts and innings, so the A's have to replace that workload.
Jeff McNeil
McNeil came over from the Mets in December 2025 with a $15.75 million option for 2027 and a $2 million buyout, which MLB Trade Rumors says the Mets agreed to cover as part of the trade. He played 144 games in 2026 and hit .264 with a .313 on-base percentage, .368 slugging, nine home runs and eight stolen bases, per Baseball-Reference. MLB Trade Rumors notes that his departure leaves second base open for 2027.
Is Luis Severino Coming Back to the A's in 2027?
Reportedly, yes. MLB Trade Rumors reported on October 31, 2026, crediting Mike Rodriguez of Rompiendo Sports, that Severino will exercise his $22 million player option and stay with the A's for their final season in Sacramento before reaching free agency after 2027. As of this update we have not seen a formal team announcement, and we will update this line when one comes.
Severino signed a three-year, $67 million deal in December 2024, which MLB Trade Rumors calls the largest free agent contract in A's history. In 2026 he made 12 starts with a 4.16 ERA over 62 2/3 innings before a shoulder strain ended his season, per Baseball-Reference. MLB Trade Rumors notes a big home and road split in his two A's seasons: a 5.85 ERA in 20 starts at Sutter Health Park and a 3.14 ERA in 21 starts on the road. It also floats a trade as possible but sees him most likely returning as the veteran at the front of a young rotation alongside J.T. Ginn, Jacob Lopez and Gage Jump.
What Does the A's Roster Need Next?
Based on the reporting above, the two clearest holes are starting pitching and second base. With Springs gone, MLB Trade Rumors projects a rotation built around Severino, Ginn, Jump, Lopez and Luis Medina, and calls it "not a strong group." It adds that the A's have had trouble signing free agent pitchers because of their current home park, so trades may be the more likely route. At second base, MLB Trade Rumors lists internal options like Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and notes the longer-term possibility of Jacob Wilson moving there once top prospect Leo De Vries takes over at shortstop.
De Vries is the name to watch. Smith called him "a crown jewel of the system" in his MLB.com Q&A, and MLB.com's injury tracker says he had surgery to repair right shoulder instability on September 14, with the A's hopeful he could return in the first two months of the 2027 season. For more on him and the rest of the pipeline, see our A's prospects watch list and our breakdown of the young core headed to Vegas.
What Are the Key Dates Left in the A's Offseason?
These are the league dates that will shape the next moves on this tracker, per CBS Sports:
- November 2: deadline to make qualifying offers, and free agents can sign with any team as of 5 p.m. ET.
- November 10 to 12: GM Meetings in Las Vegas.
- November 17: deadline to add eligible minor leaguers to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft.
- November 17 to 19: owners meetings in New York.
- November 20: non-tender deadline for pre-arbitration and arbitration-eligible players.
- December 1: the collective bargaining agreement expires, and owners are expected to lock out the players.
- December 7 to 9: Winter Meetings in San Diego, which CBS notes are subject to change if there is a lockout.
December 1 matters most. During a lockout, CBS notes, there are no trades or free agent signings involving 40-man roster players, so the A's window to add big league players through trades or free agency may be short. Our explainer on what an MLB lockout would mean for the A's and the Las Vegas move covers that scenario in detail.
The Bottom Line
Two weeks into the Taylor Smith era, the A's have reshaped the front office, cleared 40-man space, moved on from two veterans and, by report, kept Severino. The bigger additions, especially starting pitching, are still to come. We will keep this tracker updated, newest move first, through the end of the offseason.
Sources
- MLB.com, A's bring in Taylor Smith to run baseball operations (October 19, 2026)
- MLB.com, Q&A: Smith discusses his new role as youngest head of baseball ops in MLB (October 27, 2026)
- MLB.com, A's trade RHP prospect to Red Sox for outfielder Eaton (October 29, 2026)
- MLB.com, Latest Athletics injuries and transactions (October 29, 2026)
- MLB Trade Rumors, A's Considering Hiring GM Under Taylor Smith (October 21, 2026)
- MLB Trade Rumors, Athletics Acquire Nate Eaton From Red Sox (October 29, 2026)
- MLB Trade Rumors, Athletics Outright Six Players (October 29, 2026)
- MLB Trade Rumors, Athletics Decline Club Options On Jeffrey Springs, Jeff McNeil (October 30, 2026)
- Athletics Nation, Athletics Decline Club Options On Jeff McNeil, Jeffrey Springs (October 30, 2026)
- MLB Trade Rumors, Luis Severino To Exercise Player Option, Remain With A's (October 31, 2026)
- CBS Sports, MLB offseason dates: free agency start, lockout and more (updated November 2, 2026)
- Baseball-Reference player pages: Nate Eaton, Jeffrey Springs, Jeff McNeil, Luis Severino (2026 stats)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the A's president of baseball operations?
Taylor Smith. The A's named him president of baseball operations on October 19, 2026. He is 31, the youngest head of baseball operations in MLB, and previously worked as a senior vice president and assistant general manager with the Red Sox.
What happened to David Forst?
The A's parted ways with general manager David Forst on August 7, 2026, ending an 11-year tenure. Dan Feinstein was named interim GM. Smith now holds the top baseball operations job, and Cam Castro was hired as general manager under him on November 4, 2026.
Who did the A's get for Jareth Rayo?
Outfielder and third baseman Nate Eaton from the Red Sox. The A's sent Rayo, an 18-year-old Minor League right-hander from Nicaragua, to Boston on October 29, 2026. Eaton hit .160 in 24 games for Boston in 2026.
Which players did the A's outright to Triple-A Las Vegas?
Six players cleared waivers on October 29, 2026: right-handers Henry Baez, Joey Estes and Geoff Hartlieb, catcher Brian Serven, infielder Michael Stefanic and outfielder Johnathan Rodriguez. The moves opened 40-man roster space.
Are Jeffrey Springs and Jeff McNeil still with the A's?
No. On October 30, 2026 the A's declined their 2027 club options, worth $15 million for Springs and $15.75 million for McNeil, and both became free agents. Springs had a 6.18 ERA and McNeil hit .264 in 2026.
Did Luis Severino opt out of his A's contract?
No, according to reports. MLB Trade Rumors reported on October 31, 2026 that Severino will exercise his $22 million player option for 2027, the final season of his three-year, $67 million deal. A team announcement was still pending as of November 2.
