The 2016 season was not kind to the Oakland A’s. For the second straight year they lost over 90 games and finished in last place, and once again they traded away some star players in July. The starting rotation was a no-show, the lineup mostly disappointed, and the defense was by far the worst in the sport. In a cruel irony, the bullpen was the only strength on the otherwise awful team.
There won’t be a quick fix to these dark times, but things are already looking up. The organization is now under the leadership of new team president Dave Kaval, and all signs point to a new ballpark coming to Oakland after years of exhausting uncertainty.