We’ve spent a fair deal of time the past few months discussing the AL West, producers of the past two World Series winners. There’s the reigning champion Rangers constructing a pitching staff built for next October, the always-potent Astros assembling a mega-bullpen to go along with their core of offensive talent, and the Mariners making a whole lot of trade as part of their perpetual roster churn. Each of these three teams won at least 88 games last year, and all three had a shot at the division crown entering the final weekend of the regular season. Their offseason moves reflect their hopes to contend again in 2024.

The same cannot be said for the two other teams in the division. The Angels spent most of the offseason bolstering their bullpen while doing nothing to fill the Ohtani-sized hole in their lineup. The 112-loss Athletics did even less. They signed reliever Trevor Gott, traded for Abraham Toro, and that’s about it. That is, until a few days ago, when Oakland signed lefty Alex Wood and Los Angeles added outfielder Aaron Hicks. The two players improve their new clubs along the margins, but it’s going to take more than them to turn things around.

Alex Wood Moves Across the Bay

Wood, 33, agreed to a one-year deal with Oakland over the weekend, though the terms of the contract have not yet been reported. He began his career as a highly effective starter on the Braves and Dodgers, posting a 3.29 ERA and 3.36 FIP through his first six seasons. Since then, he’s been more up and down. After injuries limited him to nine appearances combined in 2019 and 2020, he took a prove-it deal with the Giants on their miracle 2021 squad, parlaying a bounceback campaign into a two-year, $25 million contract, which didn’t work out as well. Wood had a 4.77 ERA across the two seasons and was nearly replacement level in 2023, looking nothing like the mid-rotation arm he once was.

Wood’s struggles in the first year of his second contract with the Giants were largely the product of batted ball luck; he outperformed his peripherals by about a run and a half. While his numbers in 2023 returned to nearly league-average levels, the under-the-hood numbers took a big turn for the worse. Take a look at his three-year run in San Francisco.

The numbers in 2021 and 2022 look remarkably similar, despite a vastly different ERA. But nearly everything fell apart last year. The drop in strikeout rate is significant, but what stands out most to me are the elevated walk rate and plummeting chase rate, signs of a loss in command. Part of the issue may be mechanical; Wood dropped his arm slot significantly upon joining the Giants, and his funky delivery almost resembles a shotput throw rather than a baseball pitch. But between 2022 and 2023, his vertical release point stayed about the same while his arm got about two inches less horizontal extension.

In terms of actual pitch locations, Wood often missed his spots high. I’m not just talking about intentionally-placed flat sinkers; his slider and changeup also had a generally upward drift – not an ideal outcome for someone who uses the lateral action on each of his offerings to induce ground balls. Indeed, last year he had the worst grounder rate of any full season in his career. These frequent misses made it easier for batters to lay off pitches just below the zone, an area where Wood has frequently generated value in the past, leading to a ballooning of his walk rate.

This signing is as much about Wood’s role as it is about his performance. A career starting pitcher, Wood was frustrated last year when the Giants made him a swingman. San Francisco’s decision to break down the traditional roles of starter and reliever gave jobs to rookie arms like Keaton Winn and Tristan Beck, but staff veterans certainly had to adapt to the unorthodox change. Wood averaged less than four innings a game in his dozen starts, while making relief appearances of between one and 15 outs. On one occasion, he tossed four innings and 70 pitches the day after a bullpen session and on short rest from his previous appearance.

Luckily for Wood, the A’s are the perfect team for a veteran to attempt a comeback in a consistent role. He joins fellow low-slot lefty JP Sears as the only members of the projected rotation to ever complete 120 innings in a big league season. The presence of “relative innings eaters” like Sears, Wood, and Paul Blackburn (who has topped at 111 innings) will allow a pair of young arms with big stuff in Luis Medina and Joe Boyle to pitch full seasons in the rotation with minimal risk of being overworked. They’ll also help take the load off Mason Miller, who touches 102 mph and projects as a top-five reliever by Steamer, but has spent the bulk of his professional career on the injured list. With this signing, both sides gain some stability, and if Wood pitches well, the A’s could trade him to a contender before the year is over. In the meantime, though, Wood gets a team willing to give him the ball every fifth day, while Oakland gets a live breathing man willing to pitch on a bleak-looking squad – the smallest of win-wins.

Aaron Hicks Comes to Anaheim

Once an everyday center fielder who received an MVP vote in 2018, Hicks has taken quite the fall from grace in recent years. He signed a seven-year deal worth $70 million with the Yankees after his ’18 campaign, when his combination of solid home run power and a disciplined approach made him a four-win player. But his subsequent issues with injuries and performance have sapped his value, and in May, he was released with nearly three years left on his contract. He played out the rest of 2023 with the Orioles and had a surprising return to form, though he did this in just a 65-game sample and outperformed his expected numbers considerably. The Yankees will now be paying Hicks over $8 million to play for the Angels as he attempts to rebuild his career.

First, there’s the health aspect of things. The season that prompted Hicks’ lengthy extension is, to date, the only time he’s qualified for the batting title, thanks to a laundry list of injuries that have afflicted pretty much every body part there is. These issues have had a considerable impact on his performance, most notably seen in his steady decline in power over the past half decade. Since his best season, his maximum exit velocity has declined by 4 mph, and his barrel and hard-hit rates have cratered. As someone who’s never excelled at spraying line drives, Hicks isn’t able to rely on soft flares that land in front of outfielders.

A switch hitter, Hicks tapped into his power with New York because of his ability to pull the ball in the air, a skill aided by the juiced ball era and Yankee Stadium’s short porch for left-handed hitters. The Yankees as a whole were successful in optimizing the batted ball profiles of many of their hitters, turning DJ LeMahieu and Didi Gregorius into 25-homer threats. During the peak juiced ball years of 2018 and ’19, Hicks hit nearly all of his homers to the pull side, especially taking advantage when stepping into the box as a lefty. Since then, his aerial contact has been considerably weaker. Combine that with a baseball that behaves in line with normal physics, and his entire source of power disappeared. From 2017-19, Hicks homered every 22 plate appearances; that rate has been slashed nearly in half over the past four seasons. Hicks is still likely a near-average hitter, but that value will be exclusively coming from his still-great walk rates, not through homers.

The addition of Hicks, now 34, complicates the Angels’ outfield situation a bit. They already have two clear everyday outfielders in Mike Trout and Taylor Ward, leaving just one spot and a fraction of DH time for Hicks, Mickey Moniak, and Jo Adell. Even without Hicks in the picture, allocating playing time is still a challenge. On a contending team, it would make sense to set up Moniak and Adell in a power-heavy (and OBP-light) platoon. But the Angels aren’t in such a situation. Rather, they should be prioritizing the out-of-options Adell in their plans, either to build up trade value or to give him a last chance at being a viable everyday player. Now with Hicks, a veteran and known quantity who can also be traded, in the picture, the playing time picture gets squeezed a bit more.

Because of the team’s outfield logjam, Hicks probably won’t see tons of playing time to start the year. But he certainly provides a much-needed insurance policy if things don’t go as planned. He can play center field if Trout gets injured or a corner if Moniak or Adell are waived or traded. And the positional shuffling in the case of an Anthony Rendon injury could open up time at DH for him to fill. Hicks certainly shouldn’t be stealing playing time, but especially at his price point, the Angels will be glad to have him if (or when) things go wrong.

Matt Chapman is the second-highest-ranked position player left on the free agent market, and few players have a more evocative reputation: Four Gold Gloves in five full major league seasons, plus various newfangled defensive awards like a Platinum Glove and the Wilson Overall Defensive Player of the Year. Chapman is like a movie that won the Oscar and the Palme d’Or, and you look at the DVD cover and see it also won Best Picture at the Inland Empire Film Critics Association Awards. Lots of people think he’s good.

Even if Chapman weren’t a great defender, he’d be a valuable free agent. He’s reliable: Since his first full year in the majors, 2018, he’s never missed more than 23 games in a season. He has a career wRC+ of 118, and he’s averaged 29 home runs per 162 games. Jeimer Candelario, who is seven months younger than Chapman and has had only one season as good as Chapman’s worst full campaign in the majors, just got $45 million over three years. Ben Clemens predicted that Chapman’s free agent contract would be $24 million a year over five years; the median crowdsource estimate was 4 years at $20 million per. I tend to trust Ben’s judgment more than that of the crowd, wise as the crowd may be.

But Chapman is, nevertheless, an interesting case: a high-strikeout hitter who doesn’t put up huge power numbers, and a glove-first player at a bat-first position. That’s a precarious profile when considering a player for a long-term contract into his mid-30s. Read the rest of this entry »

For the 20th consecutive season, the ZiPS projection system is unleashing a full set of prognostications. For more information on the ZiPS projections, please consult this year’s introduction and MLB’s glossary entry. The team order is selected by lot, and the next team up is the Oakland Athletics.

Batters

The A’s are the most depressing team in baseball, hands down. They actually have some competition if we’re talking about the worst team in baseball, but neither the Colorado Rockies nor the Chicago White Sox feel quite as miserable as the A’s. How often does a player take the opportunity to go all-out on the team’s owner when they announce their retirement? Read the rest of this entry »

The following article is part of Jay Jaffe’s ongoing look at the candidates on the BBWAA 2024 Hall of Fame ballot. For a detailed introduction to this year’s ballot, and other candidates in the series, use the tool above; an introduction to JAWS can be found here. For a tentative schedule, see here. All WAR figures refer to the Baseball-Reference version unless otherwise indicated.

At his listed size of 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, Matt Holliday was built like a football player. He could easily have gone in that direction, having excelled as a quarterback in high school and received scholarship offers from big-time college programs. Holliday came from a baseball-rich family, however, and his heart was on the diamond, so he chose to follow in the footsteps of his father and older brother, both of whom played professionally. He surpassed both not just by reaching the majors but by becoming a star, making seven All-Star teams in a 15-year career spent with the Rockies, A’s, Cardinals, and Yankees. He won a Coors Field-aided batting title as well as NLCS MVP honors while leading the Rockies to their only World Series berth in 2007. Winning seemed to follow Holliday, or perhaps it was the other way around; nine times in those 15 seasons his teams made the playoffs, with three trips to the World Series including a championship in 2011.

Matthew Thomas Holliday was born on January 15, 1980 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. His father, Tom Holliday, spent a year in the Pirates’ organization before pursuing coaching at the collegiate level. From 1978–96, he served as Oklahoma State University’s pitching coach and recruiting coordinator, then took over as head coach from ’97–2003. His oldest son, Josh Holliday (b. 1976), starred at Stillwater High School ahead of Matt; the two played on the same team in 1995. Josh was drafted by the Twins in the 14th round in 1995 but instead chose to go to Oklahoma State, where he played for his father and helped the team to the College World Series in ’96 and ’99. Drafted again by the Blue Jays in the ninth round in 1999, he spent two seasons playing professionally before going the college coaching route; he took over as Oklahoma State’s head coach in 2013, and still holds the job. Read the rest of this entry »

The following article is part of Jay Jaffe’s ongoing look at the candidates on the BBWAA 2024 Hall of Fame ballot. For a detailed introduction to this year’s ballot, and other candidates in the series, use the tool above; an introduction to JAWS can be found here. For a tentative schedule and a chance to fill out a Hall of Fame ballot for our crowdsourcing project, see here. All WAR figures refer to the Baseball-Reference version unless otherwise indicated.

Bartolo Colon could throw strikes. At the outset of his 21-year major league career, Colon blew 100-mph fastballs by hitters, and within a couple years showed off top-of-the-rotation form. Over a decade and more than half a dozen teams later, following a controversial arm surgery, Colon’s ability to locate his sinker to both sides of the plate with precision gained him greater renown. In one 2012 start, he threw 38 consecutive strikes.

Indeed, it was the second act of his career — or was it the third, or even the fourth? — during which Colon became an unlikely cult favorite. The Dominican-born righty had listed at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds while in the minors, but his biggest contract extension had a weight clause centered at 225 pounds. After suffering a torn rotator cuff at the tail end of his Cy Young Award-winning 2005 season, he spent nearly half a decade knocking around before undergoing experimental injections of fat and stem cells into his shoulder and elbow, and by the time he reemerged in his late 30s, he was officially listed at 285 pounds. His everyman build made him more relatable, but it camouflaged an exceptional athleticism. “Big Sexy” — the nickname given to him by teammate Noah Syndergaard, and later the title of his 2020 autobiography — could field his position with enough flair to execute a behind-the-back throw. He could high-kick like a Rockette, and do splits like a ballerina. “One of the stereotypes of Bartolo is because he has an atypical body type for a pitcher, he is not in shape,” said Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro in 2004. “But this guy is amazingly strong. He’s like [former Houston Oiler running back] Earl Campbell from the waist down. He is a strong, strong man, and that core strength is what it’s all about.” Read the rest of this entry »

Direct Links (Please see full job postings below):

Scouting Intern
Minor League Video Assistant

---

Minor League Video Assistant

Department: Baseball Operations
Reporting to: Manager, Minor League Technology & Development
Job Classification: Seasonal
Full-time Location (City, State): Multiple Locations

About the A’s:
The Oakland A’s are a baseball team founded in 1901. They have a rich history, having won nine World Series championships and 15 American League pennants. The A’s are known for pioneering the “Moneyball” approach to team-building, which focuses on using statistical analysis to identify undervalued players.

In addition to their success on the field, the Oakland A’s also have a positive and dynamic work culture. They have been recognized twice as the Front Office Sports, Best Employers in Sports.

The A’s are defined by their core pillars of being Dynamic, Innovative, and Inclusive. Working for the A’s offers the opportunity to be part of an innovative organization that values its employees and strives to create a positive work environment.

Description:
The Oakland Athletics are seeking a seasonal Minor League Video Assistant for the 2024 season at each of the minor league affiliates.The ideal candidate will be available to work home and road games traveling with a minor league affiliate team while handling video charting and other technical matters,

Responsibilities:

• Arrive several hours prior to each game to set up cameras and input rosters and lineups.
• Be available before games to film bullpens, batting practice, early work, and help players and staff with any video/technology related requests.
• Chart each home game using Trackman software.
• Review pitch/game data for any errors at conclusion of game and upload data to TrackMan system.
• Review questionable pitches with the video to make sure the data going into our system is as accurate as possible.
• Communicate with support and the Oakland Athletics front office about technical issues that may come up.
• Import video from cameras into editing software (BATS) to sync and cut up the game’s video.
• Upload video to the A’s proprietary scouting software.
• Work with and assist the coaching staff and players with video and technology requests.
• Manage various technologies to assist with Player Development.

Requirements:

• Must be organized and have strong attention to detail.
• Have a basic familiarity of Microsoft Office and Various Web Browsers.
• Ability to effectively communicate and problem solve IT or other technical issues.
• Prior experience with Trackman or other computerized scoring software is preferred, but not required. 
• Flexibility to work extensive hours including nights, weekends, and holidays, as required by the minor league baseball season.
• Ability to attend Spring Training in Mesa, AZ facilities.
• Ability to work at one of the Oakland Athletics’ minor league affiliates for the minor league season at one of the following affiliates (Las Vegas, NV; Midland,TX; Lansing, MI; Stockton, CA; Mesa, AZ).
• Travel as necessary based on the affiliate team’s schedule.

For California based positions only: In adherence to California’s Pay Transparency Act (SB 1162) and in compliance with California minimum wage, the starting compensation for this role is $16.00 / hour.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

---

Scouting Intern

Job Title: Scouting Intern
Department: Domestic Scouting
Reporting to: Assistant Director, Scouting & Baseball Operations
Job Classification: Non-exempt
Location: Oakland, CA

About the A’s:
The Oakland A’s are a baseball team founded in 1901. They have a rich history, having won nine World Series championships and 15 American League pennants. The A’s are known for pioneering the “Moneyball” approach to team-building, which focuses on using statistical analysis to identify undervalued players.

In addition to their success on the field, the Oakland A’s also have a positive and dynamic work culture. They have been recognized twice as the Front Office Sports, Best Employers in Sports.

The A’s are defined by their core pillars of being Dynamic, Innovative, and Inclusive. Working for the A’s offers the opportunity to be part of an innovative organization that values its employees and strives to create a positive work environment.

Description:
The Oakland A’s are hiring a full-season Scouting Intern to assist the Amateur, Professional and International Scouting Departments. This position will assist with all aspects of scouting, ranging from collecting, aggregating, and presenting amateur prospect data, serving as a conduit between scouts, supervisors, and special assistants and the front office, and helping coordinate the meetings for the First-Year Player Draft. The ideal candidate will seamlessly integrate into the scouting workflow while demonstrating strong office skills and both qualitative and quantitative reasoning. This position will be based out of Oakland, CA.

Responsibilities:

• Update internal and external systems with prospect profiles, video, and requisite information in preparation for First-Year Player Draft and International Signing Period
• Assist with expenses and travel for amateur scouting department and various front office personnel
• Serve as lead in preparation and facilitation of the draft room
• Aid in coordination of A’s sponsored workouts
• Aid in the training of new scout hires on use of internal software, external platforms, expense
• reimbursement policies and expectations and timeline for collection and submission of
• information
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Degree from accredited college or university
• Excellent verbal communication and problem-solving skills 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) 
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail 
• Ability to work flexible hours including nights, weekends, and holidays
• Some travel required

In adherence to California’s Pay Transparency Act (SB 1162), the base hourly rate for this role is $16.00, consistent with California’s minimum wage requirement.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Oakland Athletics.

This week’s 40-man roster deadline was less eventful than usual (we only had one trade on deadline day), but as always, a number of young players became big leaguers in a certain sense, and teams had no choice but to indicate what they think of lots of fringe prospects who they either did or did not choose to roster. This day of clerical activity is the culmination of the efforts of the players themselves, the people in player development who have helped turn them into big leaguers, and the scouting and decision-making portions of each org that put their stamp of approval on the prospects. Is any one move here as impactful as signing a Yoshinobu Yamamoto or a Matt Chapman? No, but when your favorite team experiences a rash of injuries in June, whether or not they have the depth to scrap and compete is often dictated by the people and processes that surround this day. I’m more focused on analyzing roster depth, fit and flexibility in this space than on scouting players (especially when they’re star prospects you already know well). I’ll have a separate post on the National League. Read the rest of this entry »

This post is part of a series covering the 2024 Contemporary Baseball Era Committee Managers/Executives/Umpires ballot, covering candidates in those categories who made their greatest impact from 1980 to the present. For an introduction to the ballot, see here. The eight candidates will be voted upon at the Winter Meetings in Nashville on December 3, and anyone receiving at least 75% of the vote from the 16 committee members will be inducted in Cooperstown on July 21, 2024 along with any candidates elected by the BBWAA.

Hank Peters

In a career that spanned over four decades, from 1946 to ’91, Hank Peters helped lay the groundwork for two powerhouses: the mid-1970s A’s as an executive with their Kansas City forerunners, and the mid-1990s Cleveland squad as the team’s president and general manager from ’87-91. In between those stints, he served as the general manager of the Orioles from 1975 to ’87, navigating the dawn of free agency and making key trades that helped the team win at least 90 games six times, highlighted by a pennant in ’79 and a championship in ’83.

Peters wasn’t particularly colorful, but he was meticulous without being overbearing, with a keen eye for talent. From his Washington Post obituary in 2015: “Patient and unflappable, Mr. Peters did most of his work away from the public spotlight. The Baltimore Sun once likened his laid-back persona to that of a ‘rubber tree plant in an insurance office.'” Within the aforementioned Sun column, from 1985, his admirers found him to be “a rock,” “a great organizer, a great detail man,” and “the consummate baseball man.”

Peters is the only general manager among the eight candidates on this ballot, though Lou Piniella served in that role briefly with the Yankees. He’s one of only two executives on the ballot, along with former National League president Bill White, whose credentials also include stardom as a player and a stretch as a pioneering broadcaster. Read the rest of this entry »

Direct Links (Please see full job postings below):

Junior Data Engineer
Junior Biomechanist

---

Junior Data Engineer

Department: Baseball Operations
Reporting to: Assistant GM, Baseball Development & Technology
Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt
Full-time Location (City, State): Mesa, AZ, OR remote

About the A’s:
The Oakland A’s are a baseball team founded in 1901. They have a rich history, having won nine World Series championships and 15 American League pennants. The A’s are known for pioneering the “Moneyball” approach to team-building, which focuses on using statistical analysis to identify undervalued players.

In addition to their success on the field, the Oakland A’s also have a positive and dynamic work culture. They have been recognized twice as the Front Office Sports, Best Employers in Sports.

The A’s are defined by their core pillars of being Dynamic, Innovative, and Inclusive. Working for the A’s offers the opportunity to be part of an innovative organization that values its employees and strives to create a positive work environment.

Description:
The Oakland A’s are hiring for a full-time Junior Data Engineer to assist the Baseball Operations Department. This position will mainly support all Baseball Operations data ingestion, administration, and support, crossing into Player Development and Research & Development. This position is based out of Mesa, AZ or has the potential to be remote.

Responsibilities:

• Develop efficient processes to import and maintain data from external data sources.
• Document and optimize existing data pipeline processes.
• Ensure all datasets are properly designed for R&D department usage.
• Collaborate with data scientists and analysts to explore and improve statistical model outputs.
• Perform ad-hoc queries for front office and coaching / video staff as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Applicable degree from accredited college or university.
• Experience working with relational databases – SQL Server preferred.
• Experience with importing data from different sources (API, flat file, database) via data programming languages – Python preferred. 
• Experience writing and optimizing SQL queries.
• Strong organizational skills and excellent attention to detail.
• Familiarity with statistics and data science concepts.
• Understanding of data lifecycle and testing requirements.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office or Google G Suite.
• Ability to work flexible hours including nights, weekends, and holidays.

The Oakland A’s diversity statement:
Diversity Statement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are in our organizational DNA. Our commitment to these values is unwavering – on and off the field. Together, we continue to build an inclusive, innovative, and dynamic culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates belonging and amplifies diverse voices. Combining a collaborative and innovative work environment with talented and diverse team members, we’ve created a workforce in which every team member has the tools to reach their full potential.

Equal Opportunity Consideration:
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

---

Junior Biomechanist

Department: Baseball Operations
Reporting to: Director, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt
Full-time Location (City, State): Mesa, AZ

About the A’s:
The Oakland A’s are a baseball team founded in 1901. They have a rich history, having won nine World Series championships and 15 American League pennants. The A’s are known for pioneering the “Moneyball” approach to team-building, which focuses on using statistical analysis to identify undervalued players.

In addition to their success on the field, the Oakland A’s also have a positive and dynamic work culture. They have been recognized twice as the Front Office Sports, Best Employers in Sports.

The A’s are defined by their core pillars of being Dynamic, Innovative, and Inclusive. Working for the A’s offers the opportunity to be part of an innovative organization that values its employees and strives to create a positive work environment.

Description:
The Oakland A’s are hiring for a full-time Junior Biomechanist alongside and in conjunction with the Lead Sport Scientist / Biomechanist and the Sports Medicine / Performance department. This position will assist in numerous organizational priorities, including building and reporting new sports performance reports and metrics, playing an active role in biomechanical evaluations of both internal and external organizational players, and serving as a keystone for stakeholders between the Major League, Baseball Operations, Research and Development, Player Development and Sports Science staffs. This position will be primarily based out of Mesa, AZ.

Responsibilities:

• Organize, interpret, and execute data-based analysis of in-game biomechanical data.
• Collaborate with Lead Sport Scientist / Biomechanist to establish objective measures and workload-based reports relating to player health and injury prevention.
• Assist with development and execution of performance science initiatives across the organization, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Effectively collaborate and communicate with player development, sports medicine, strength and conditioning, and front office staff.
• Test, implement, and create protocols for new and developing technologies within the baseball science world.
• Work with Performance Staff, Player Development, and Baseball Research and Development departments to improve and tailor individual player development plans.

Requirements:

• A graduate-level degree in biomechanics or a related field, or demonstrated experience collecting, interpreting, modeling, and applying biomechanics data.
• Demonstrated work in sports science or performance field, either with team or program, relating to data collection, analysis, and implementation.
• Biomechanics background or experience working with biomechanical data.
• Prior knowledge of motion capture and other technologies.
• Excellent communication skills including written and verbal.
• Ability to work flexible hours including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Some travel required (California, affiliate cities, or elsewhere).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience and proficiency with: biomechanical datasets, Database querying (e.g., SQL) and statistical software (e.g., R, Python).
• Strong proficiency in data analysis tools.

The Oakland A’s diversity statement:
Diversity Statement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are in our organizational DNA. Our commitment to these values is unwavering – on and off the field. Together, we continue to build an inclusive, innovative, and dynamic culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates belonging and amplifies diverse voices. Combining a collaborative and innovative work environment with talented and diverse team members, we’ve created a workforce in which every team member has the tools to reach their full potential.

Equal Opportunity Consideration:
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Oakland Athletics.

Direct Links (Please see full job postings below):

Advance Scouting Analyst
Player Development Analyst

---

Advance Scouting Analyst

Department: Baseball Operations
Reporting to: Director, Baseball Development
Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt
Full-time Location (City, State): Oakland, CA

About the A’s:
The Oakland A’s are a baseball team founded in 1901. They have a rich history, having won nine World Series championships and 15 American League pennants. The A’s are known for pioneering the “Moneyball” approach to team-building, which focuses on using statistical analysis to identify undervalued players.

In addition to their success on the field, the Oakland A’s also have a positive and dynamic work culture. They have been recognized twice as the Front Office Sports, Best Employers in Sports.

The A’s are defined by their core pillars of being Dynamic, Innovative, and Inclusive. Working for the A’s offers the opportunity to be part of an innovative organization that values its employees and strives to create a positive work environment.

Description:
The Oakland A’s are hiring for a full-time Advance Scouting Analyst to assist the Advance Scouting Department. This position crosses into the intersection of several fields (Baseball Operations, Player Development, Video, Research & Analytics). The ideal candidate will seamlessly integrate into the advance work process, aiding the coaching and video support staff in pre-game and game tasks for the duration of the 2024 season. This position will be primarily based out of Oakland, CA, but will require extensive travel with the Major League club.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in pre-game preparation and assignments for coaching and advance staff.
• Perform ad-hoc queries for coaching and video staff, and front office as needed.
• Help chart, film, and clip early work and game video and data feeds.
• Navigate through public and proprietary data sources for strategic insights.

Requirements:

• Degree from accredited college or university.
• Demonstrated quantitative background, either by degree or work sample (SQL, R, Python, Tableau, or other programming language).
• Proficient in Microsoft Office or Google G Suite.
• Excellent verbal communication and problem solving IT or other technical issues.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Playing background (baseball or softball) at the collegiate level or above is a plus.
• Ability to work flexible hours including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Willingness to travel with the Major League club up to 90 days a year.

The Oakland A’s diversity statement:
Diversity Statement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are in our organizational DNA. Our commitment to these values is unwavering – on and off the field. Together, we continue to build an inclusive, innovative, and dynamic culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates belonging and amplifies diverse voices. Combining a collaborative and innovative work environment with talented and diverse team members, we’ve created a workforce in which every team member has the tools to reach their full potential.

Equal Opportunity Consideration:
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.

In adherence to California’s Pay Transparency Act (SB 1162), the salary range for this role is $65,000 – $70,000, consistent with California’s minimum salary threshold requirement.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

---

Player Development Analyst

Department: Baseball Operations
Reporting to: Director, Baseball Development
Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt
Full-time Location (City, State): Mesa, AZ

About the A’s:
The Oakland A’s are a baseball team founded in 1901. They have a rich history, having won nine World Series championships and 15 American League pennants. The A’s are known for pioneering the “Moneyball” approach to team-building, which focuses on using statistical analysis to identify undervalued players.

In addition to their success on the field, the Oakland A’s also have a positive and dynamic work culture. They have been recognized twice as the Front Office Sports, Best Employers in Sports.

The A’s are defined by their core pillars of being Dynamic, Innovative, and Inclusive. Working for the A’s offers the opportunity to be part of an innovative organization that values its employees and strives to create a positive work environment.

Description:
The Oakland A’s are hiring for a full-time Player Development Analyst to assist the Player Development Department. This position will handle multiple responsibilities, including building and reporting new statistical models and findings, assisting in producing player improvement plans, and serve as a resource for the Player Development and Sports Science staff. This position will also assist in operating and producing analysis for various tracking technologies. This position will be primarily based out of Mesa, AZ.

Responsibilities:

• Produce statistical analysis and reporting for Player Development coaching staff.
• Conduct research projects for various groups within Player Development (Strength & Conditioning, Sports Science).
• Collaborate with the research and development team on statistical modeling techniques and projects with a focus on Player Development.
• Assist with the capture and analysis of ball and player tracking technologies.
• Assist the staff with ad-hoc analysis and reporting.

Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree in math, computer science, economics, statistics or related quantitative field.
• Strong proficiency in SQL and R.
• Experience with Microsoft Excel is a plus.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Self-starter with an ability to handle multiple tasks and responsibilities.
• Excellent communication skills including written and verbal; ability to present ideas clearly and concisely.
• Ability to work flexible hours including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Willingness to occasionally travel to Oakland, CA, minor league affiliates, or elsewhere.
• Playing background (baseball or softball) at the collegiate level or above is a plus.

The Oakland A’s diversity statement:
Diversity Statement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are in our organizational DNA. Our commitment to these values is unwavering – on and off the field. Together, we continue to build an inclusive, innovative, and dynamic culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates belonging and amplifies diverse voices. Combining a collaborative and innovative work environment with talented and diverse team members, we’ve created a workforce in which every team member has the tools to reach their full potential.

Equal Opportunity Consideration:
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Oakland Athletics.