The Oakland Athletics expectations for the 2024 season are not high. Their current payroll of $61 million is dead last in the league and is more than $20 less than the next closest organization. To make things even more confusing they elected to option the 2023 MLB stolen base leader, Esteury Ruiz, after Opening Weekend.
Esteury Ruiz Led the American League in Stolen Bases Last Year
Ruiz came to the Oakland Athletics during the 2022-2023 off-season as part of a three-team trade centered around Sean Murphy heading to Atlanta. Before that, he had spent a few weeks in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, as he was dealt from the San Diego Padres in July of 2023 as part of the Josh Hader trade package.
With the Athletics in 2023, he got an opportunity to play every day. He led the American League in stolen bases with 67 and slashed .254/.309/.345. An injury to his shoulder cost him a month of big-league action last year; otherwise, he would have accumulated more stolen bases.
After Opening Weekend, the Oakland Athletics Optioned Esteury Ruiz to the Minor Leagues
During Opening Weekend, Ruiz went 3-7 at the plate with a double, triple, and one stolen base. His performance on the field wasn’t why the Oakland Athletics optioned him down. Rather, GM David Forst said they want him to get everyday playing time, and the way their 2024 roster is constructed, he won’t get that opportunity right away in the big leagues.
Ruiz will likely be back in the big leagues sometime in 2024. However, it’s clear that the Athletics want him to be more consistent at getting on base and cutting out strikeouts before they let him run free on big-league base paths again.
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