An anonymous report recently dropped with some survey results from actual MLB players, and let’s say there’s one team nobody’s exactly daydreaming about playing for.
And that would be the Oakland Athletics, who absolutely dominated the bad reputation category. Out of 115 MLB players surveyed, a whopping 39 called out the A’s as the team with the worst rep in baseball. That’s not just a jab; that’s a full-on fastball to the chin.
The Money Problem Is No Secret around The MLB
Where to begin? First off, money—or rather, the lack of it. MLB Players straight-up said the A’s don’t spend at all. That’s nothing new if you’ve followed the team over the years, but it’s different hearing it from the players themselves.
One unnamed player even shared that his buddy had been traded there as a minor leaguer and described the whole experience as if it were a motel horror story. Crummy meals, uncomfortable lodgings—it was more “budget road trip” than “big league lifestyle.” The financial squeeze isn’t just felt in free agency; it’s baked into the entire MLB player experience.
A Stadium Fit for a Double-A Team?
Then there’s the stadium issue. Let’s be real here: the A’s are currently playing in what’s essentially a minor league ballpark in Sacramento as they bide their time before moving to Las Vegas. And they’re stuck there for two more seasons. Two! That’s a long time to be the punchline of the league, even by rebuilding standards. It’s not just uncomfortable—it’s symbolic. Players see it and think: “If ownership’s fine with this, what else are they willing to skimp on?” The answer is, well, pretty much everything.
Spending Spree or Smoke Screen?
Sure, they tried to splash a little cash this past offseason—maybe as a PR move, or maybe not—but it didn’t move the needle. Players aren’t buying it. The spending didn’t appear to be a strategic rebuild or a vision change; it seemed like noise. And with the team sitting at 26-43, it’s hard to argue they’re turning any corners. They’re not bottoming out with purpose—they’re just there. Unconvincing on the field and uninspiring off of it.
It’s not just the A’s in the doghouse, by the way. The White Sox, Marlins, and Rockies also got poor reviews. But the Athletics? They were in a league of their own—and not the fun kind. This isn’t about a few salty comments. It’s a full-blown reputation crisis.
When your peers are openly roasting your entire operation, you might need more than a new stadium. You might need a full cultural reboot, which, hopefully, they get with their Vegas move.
