The Athletics have spun their wheels recently, finishing in last place in the American League West in each of the last three seasons. That's their longest streak of languishing in the cellar since they did so four straight times from 1940-43.
There's cause for optimism in Oakland, however. No franchise improved its farm system as much in 2017 as the A's, who entered 2017 with a middle-of-the-pack collection of Minor League talent and now rank among baseball's top tier.
The quickest way to beef up a farm system is to trade veterans for prospects, and Oakland did that in a pair of deals with playoff teams in July.