The Oakland Athletics are tightening their competition for starting pitching by optioning right-hander Joey Estes to Triple-A. With camp winding down and the season creeping up, the field narrows.
Estes’ uneven big-league track record and limited Cactus League action have sped up a reshaping of the A’s rotation picture. There are still several veterans and prospects fighting for those five spots.
A’s rotation shakeup after Estes optioned to Triple-A
Estes, 24, has a 5.51 ERA over 148 1/3 big-league innings. He strikes out about 16.3% of hitters, shows decent command, but gives up too many home runs.
He’s in the final year of his minor-league option, which puts a bit of pressure on Oakland’s evaluation. Sending him down clears a lane for the rest of the spring’s contenders to show what they’ve got before Opening Day.
Manager Mark Kotsay and the A’s came into camp with Severino, Jeffrey Springs, and Aaron Civale penciled in as likely rotation leaders. Estes’ move out of the mix forces the staff to look harder at the next group up.
- Severino: Expected to anchor the rotation with his experience and ability to eat innings.
- Jeffrey Springs: Seen as a potential top starter, maybe even the staff’s ace if things break right.
- Aaron Civale: A steady veteran who can give Oakland reliable outings in the middle of the rotation.
Luis Morales: velocity, durability and a firm place in the plan
Luis Morales is still in the rotation conversation, even after a shaky spring. He’s got a good shot to start the year in the rotation after a promising rookie year.
Morales averaged a blazing 97.3 mph on his fastball last season. He finished with a 3.14 ERA in 48 2/3 innings and still has three option years left, which gives Oakland some flexibility.
He brings high velocity and decent control, so he stays in the mix for early-season starts. Sure, his spring has been a little up and down, but his talent and last year’s results make it tough to ignore him as the A’s finalize their roster.
Jacob Lopez: the favorite for the fifth starter, but not without questions
Jacob Lopez, 28, came over with Springs in the deal that deepened Oakland’s pitching. He’s the clear favorite for the fifth starter job.
Last year, Lopez logged 92 2/3 innings with a 4.08 ERA and solid strikeout numbers. He missed time with a forearm issue and looked a little rusty in his spring debut, but there’s time left for him to lock in a spot.
He’s got a proven track record and one option year left, which helps the A’s manage his workload. If he sharpens up in the next couple of weeks, he probably grabs that fifth rotation spot.
Gage Jump: the wildcard with 40-man roster and incentive-program potential
Top prospect Gage Jump is the wild card here. The lefty’s velocity is up this spring, sitting around 96 mph, and he dominated High-A and Double-A in 2025.
Jump isn’t on the 40-man roster yet, but his upside and velocity spike make a 2026 debut feel possible if he stays healthy and tightens up his secondary pitches. Would it be a shock to see him break camp with the big club? Maybe, but the buzz is real.
If Oakland promotes Jump, they could get an extra draft pick from MLB’s prospect promotion incentive program. That’s another reason for the team to weigh his timing carefully against what the rotation needs now and what the farm system might need later.
What this means for the A’s season and the road ahead
Oakland just sent Estes down, which really shows they’re taking a cautious approach. They want to manage workloads and focus on long-term development, but they’re still trying to keep the rotation competitive this year.
The mix of Morales, Lopez, and Jump—plus the veterans in the early plan—gives the A’s a blend of power, control, and some real upside. If Jump can stay healthy and keep progressing, Oakland might suddenly have a lot more pitching depth.
As these spring games roll on, the A’s will keep tweaking the balance between having arms ready for the majors and betting on future potential. They want a rotation that can handle the chaos of a full season, but they’re also thinking about flexibility and possible prospect bonuses down the line.
Here is the source article for this story: Latest On Athletics’ Rotation
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