A's Players Set to Hit Free Agency

Tony Kemp and Trevor May are set to hit the open market, so who will take their places on the A's roster?

One of the longest seasons in A's history both on and off the field has finally come to an end with the A's 7-3 loss to the Angels. The team finished with a 50-112 record. 

In the coming days we'll have a recap of the season up on the site, but for now people are likely wondering which A's players will be hitting free agency this winter, so let's tackle that one real quick. 

After joining the team in 2020, Tony Kemp will finally get his first crack at free agency. While his stat line in 2023 was below his career numbers, Kemp has been an integral part of the A's clubhouse and has been a go-to veteran for a lot of the younger players on the roster. Countless times we heard that he's an influence to the rookies because of the way he goes about his business day in and day out. Regardless of the team's or his own struggles, he was always the same guy. 

That had an impact on the younger players, and is likely a big part of the reason why the clubhouse remained pretty positive throughout the course of the season despite the team's woes on the field. 

After his final home game with the A's, he gave us his favorite plays in an A's uniform.

Kemp hit .209 with a .303 on-base percentage this year, both of which are the worst of his time with Oakland. A team that signs him could be looking for a versatile defender and a clubhouse leader on a more competitive team than the A's, but he's not likely to break the bank in free agency either. Purely guessing, but somewhere in the one year, $4 million or two year, $7 million range is likely in store. 

If the A's didn't re-sign Kemp that would open up more opportunities for some of the younger guys, particularly in the outfield with Zack Gelof locking down second base. That means more playing time for Esteury Ruiz, Lawrence Butler, JJ Bleday, Seth Brown, and occasionally Brent Rooker. 

The other impending free agent on the club is closer Trevor May, who has likely performed his way into a pretty good contract on a contending club after his one-year stint with the A's. The 34-year-old righty finished the season with a 3.28 ERA and 21 saves in 24 opportunities. 

Once he returned from the IL in late May with issues related to anxiety, May was a completely different pitcher. He finished September with a 0.00 ERA and didn't allow a run to cross the plate since August 13. He's probably looking at somewhere around $7-9 million per season on his next deal. The only reason that contract may not a little higher is that his walk rate was a little high at 5.72 per nine (14.4%), which led to his FIP sitting at 4.79.

He made $7 million with the A's this past season, so it would make sense for him to make more after the fantastic season he just had, but front offices will likely try to point at his expected numbers to offer him a lower contract.  

With May likely headed elsewhere, the A's closer situation will be up in the air. They could go back to the Dany Jiménez/Zach Jackson combo, but both missed time this season and Jackson hasn't pitched since May 16 with a strained flexor. 

Lucas Erceg had stretches of dominance and will finish with the second-highest WAR total among A's pitchers this season with 0.8. Paul Blackburn finished with 1.5 WAR. Erceg also held a 4.75 ERA (3.31 FIP). With the way the roster is currently constructed, one of those three will likely hold the closer's role on Opening Day 2024, though the A's could look to the free agent market themselves for another reliever to fill the void.