The Athletics are making it clear which players are part of their long-term vision. The first move came in January, when the club signed veteran slugger Brent Rooker to a five-year, $60 million extension. Rooker, who won a Silver Slugger Award and earned his first All-Star nod in 2024, has continued to anchor the lineup this season.
Brent Rooker Reveals Preferred Team Ahead of Trade Deadline originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Athletics are making it clear which players are part of their long-term vision.
Instead of selling off their top performers, the A’s have doubled down on youth and internal development, locking in two of their most promising hitters to multi-year extensions.
The first move came in January, when the club signed veteran slugger Brent Rooker to a five-year, $60 million extension. Rooker, who won a Silver Slugger Award and earned his first All-Star nod in 2024, has continued to anchor the lineup this season. Through 104 games, he’s batting .263 with 21 home runs and 56 RBIs, recently hitting his 100th career home run.
Two months later, the A’s extended outfielder Lawrence Butler with a seven-year, $65.5 million deal that includes a club option through 2032 and could reach $87.5 million in total value. The 24-year-old has become one of Oakland’s most reliable bats in 2025, posting a .249 average, 17 home runs, and 56 RBIs in 387 at-bats. His second-half surge in 2024 (.300/.330/.565) was a major bright spot during a year when the team improved from 50 to 69 wins.
The A's enter play on July 24 with a 42-62 record, last in the American League West. However, they've clearly prioritized stability as they continue their relocation process. Now playing home games at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, the franchise is set to move to Las Vegas in 2028.
The long-term uncertainty has led to speculation that the A's might shop players like Rooker ahead of the deadline. Instead, Rooker made it clear where he stands during a recent appearance on the Foul Territory podcast.
“I’m not going anywhere, Kratzy,” Rooker told co-host Erik Kratz.
"I signed the extension because I'm where I want to be. I believe in what we're doing, the people that we have (roster and players), our coaching staff, in the building. I believe in everything going on and I want to be a part of that."
Brent Rooker confirms he's NOT getting traded anywhere.
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) July 24, 2025
"I signed the extension because I'm where I want to be." pic.twitter.com/gkFpRsOzjJ
Between Butler's breakout and Rooker's consistency, the A's appear to have their offensive foundation in place. The A's may not be ready to contend yet, but the message is clear: they're not starting from scratch much longer.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
