In this episode of Locked On A’s, we dive head-first into the seismic roster moves the A’s made as the 2025 season ends and the 2026 campaign looms. We’ll break down the departures of catcher Willie MacIver and reliever Michel Otañez via waiver claims, explore the outrightings of Anthony Maldonado, Ben Bowden and Jared Shuster, and ask the hard question: is this savvy roster management or just another piece of the A’s austerity puzzle? We’ll examine MacIver’s Triple-A tear (a .362/.426/.541 line) versus his major‐league troubles (.186/.252/.324) to ask why the A’s didn’t stash him differently. Then we’ll dig into Otañez’s upside (upper-90s heat, 34 % strikeout rate) and downside (14 % walk rate, minor-league 6.05 ERA) to decide whether the A’s are dodging risk or sacrificing upside. Next, we widen the lens to the A’s bigger blueprint: clearing 40-man spots, repositioning for an offseason hunt for starting pitching, infield help at second and third, and perhaps most importantly a reliever with true closing experience. 

We’ll dig into the bullpen shuffles, the infield injury cloud over Zack Gelof and Brett Harris, and ask what the A’s are betting on internally (hello Darell Hernaiz) versus what they’ll need to bring in externally. It’s part roster update, part strategic breakdown, part wake-up call to A’s fans: the offseason is here, and the Desert Dynasty blueprint is moving fast. 

Willie MacIver, A’s catcher, Athletics roster moves, A’s offseason 2025, A’s 40-man roster, Athletics transactions, A’s catcher depth, Shea Langeliers, Austin Wynns, Willie MacIver claimed by Rangers, Willie MacIver waiver claim, A’s roster update, A’s news, Athletics rebuild, A’s free agency, Athletics offseason updates, Athletics player development, Vegas A’s, Desert Dynasty 2028, Locked On A’s, Booney Locked On A’s 

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