During the 2021-22 offseason, the A’s traded Gold Glove third baseman Matt Chapman, Gold Glove first baseman Matt Olson and starting pitchers Chris Bassitt and Sean Manaea, reducing their payroll to roughly $48 million, tens of millions less than the year before. They also allowed outfielder Starling Marte to leave via free agency. Then, in August, they traded Frankie Montas and closer Lou Trivino to the New York Yankees. This past offseason, Gold Glove catcher Sean Murphy was also traded.
That is an extraordinary talent drain. Not surprisingly, the team’s record dropped to 60-102 in 2022 with baseball’s lowest payroll. This season, they still have the lowest payroll (just a tad behind the Mets’ $336 million or so), and their record and attendance reflect that.
The team has drawn announced crowds of fewer than 3,000 four times in May. For one three-game series against the Guardians in April, they drew a total of 11,372 fans.
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