As of June 26, the Athletics were squarely in the playoff chase in the American League.

Although the A's had a 40-42 record following their 9-3 victory over the Angels, that was good enough to be a potential playoff team. The A's were tied with the Texas Rangers for the final wild-card spot and were viewed as a potential buyer ahead of the trade deadline. 

Everything has fallen apart since. The A's lost 13 of their final 14 games heading into the All-Star break and are in the midst of a nine-game losing streak. Any dreams of the playoffs are likely over. Instead, the A's are likely to be sellers at the trade deadline, looking ahead to the 2027 season.

Three potential trade chips for the Athletics

1. Relief pitcher Mark Leiter Jr.

Leiter did not attract much attention in free agency during the 2025-26 offseason as he was coming off a disappointing stint with the Yankees. The A's signed Leiter to a one-year contract worth $2.85 million, a respectable contract to see if he had anything left in the tank.

That contract is proving to be a bargain thus far. He has posted a solid 4.41 ERA and a 1.286 WHiP over his 32.2 innings, striking out 36 batters with 10 walks. While his four saves are tied for the second-most on the A's this season, he has typically served as a middle reliever or setup man during his career. Given his minimal contract and impending free agency, Leiter could be an attractive option for teams hunting for bullpen help on a limited budget.

2. Starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs

Although Springs has struggled this season, he could be an interesting buy-low option. While injuries had wiped out most of the 2023 and 2024 seasons, he had posted a 3.24 ERA and a 1.140 WHiP in his 355.1 innings from 2022 through 2025, striking out 343 batters with 100 walks.

Springs has not come close to that performance this year, posting a 6.08 ERA and a 1.423 WHiP over his 97.2 innings while allowing a major league-worst 26 homers. A part of those issues stems from Springs being a fly-ball pitcher, which does not work well in the launching pad known as Sutter Health Park. A trade to a team with a larger ballpark could work well for both sides. Springs also has a $15 million team option for 2027; if he returns to form after leaving Sacramento, he could be an option for next year as well.

3. Catcher Jonah Heim

Heim was a low-risk acquisition for the A's as his contract was purchased from the Braves on May 4. He has been a solid option as the A's backup catcher since, posting a .232/.281/.464 batting line with eight homers and five doubles in his 135 plate appearances. Heim has also made three appearances, with two starts, at first as the A's have looked for ways to get his bat in the lineup.

If Heim gets more time at first, he could become a bit more valuable on the trade front. Although he is a switch hitter, Heim has been better against lefties throughout his career, making him an intriguing platoon option or a potentially dangerous pinch hitter. His defense behind the plate — three runs saved and a 35.2% caught stealing rate for the A's — adds to his value. Heim could bring back a solid return for the A's, making his acquisition even better.