Alright, let’s talk about the Oakland Athletics and the kind of offseason puzzle that front offices either dread or secretly love — because if you get it right, it can change everything especially for the Braves.
One Signing Could Solve Two Problems
Now, the A’s aren’t exactly known for writing big checks. Let’s not kid ourselves. But this winter, they’ve got a decision on their hands that could shape their entire bullpen and their rotation. The player at the center of this domino effect? Right-handed fireman Raisel Iglesias — yeah, that Raisel Iglesias, the veteran closer who’s been quietly elite for over a decade.
Here’s the setup: The A’s have a young arm in Jack Perkins who’s clearly talented, clearly electric… and clearly carrying a few too many stamps on his injury passport. They could stash him in the bullpen to ease the workload — but that only works if they’ve locked in their rotation with a reliable veteran. Flip it the other way: sign a vet bullpen piece instead (like, say, Iglesias), and they can keep Perkins stretched out as a starter. It’s a chain reaction, and it all hinges on what kind of move the front office wants to make.
Iglesias Still Has It — But Is He Worth the Price Tag?
Now, Jim Bowden of The Athletic threw some names into the mix, but Iglesias? That one really sticks. Over the past three seasons with Atlanta, the guy has posted a 2.62 ERA, a WHIP under 1, and a 161 ERA+ — that’s 61% better than league average, for those keeping score. He’s 35 now, turning 36 next year, but don’t let that number fool you — the guy knows how to pitch. He’s got finesse, control, and the kind of experience that doesn’t show up on the radar gun.
Two years, $24 million. That’s not chump change for Oakland, but it’s also not back-breaking. The A’s could do it if they’re ready to commit. But here’s the catch: we’ve seen this movie before. Jim Johnson ring any bells? Yeah, not every high-priced bullpen arm turns into a postseason hero. And the A’s have had surprising success finding diamonds in the rough for pennies on the dollar.
Internal Options Could Tip the Scales
Case in point: five different guys earned saves in the final two months of 2025 after Mason Miller got shipped to San Diego. And you know what? That patchwork crew still posted the second-best bullpen ERA in baseball over that span — a sparkling 2.99. That’s not a fluke. That’s good scouting and development doing its job.
So is Iglesias a fit? Absolutely. Would he bring order to the ninth-inning chaos? No doubt. But do the A’s need to spend on him? That’s the million-dollar — or maybe the $24 million — question. Because if guys like Elvis Alvarado can repeat their late-season magic, this front office might decide they’ve already got the ingredients. They just need to keep stirring.
