As the Oakland Athletics gear up for what seems to be a tumultuous 2024-25 offseason, they find themselves floating in uncharted waters. With no guaranteed contracts for the next season and only a handful of arbitration-eligible players, the franchise has a rare opportunity to reshape its roster. However, the looming question remains: how can they attract talent to a team that will play its home games in a less-than-ideal Triple-A facility?

Despite these hurdles, the A's are reportedly actively exploring free agency. Manager Mark Kotsay recently confirmed during a talk at the Sports Business Administration Summit at USC that the team is in discussions with right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler, a notable name in the league.

While the prospect of Buehler donning an Athletics jersey may seem enticing, it’s important to temper expectations. Kotsay hinted that Buehler might not be keen on playing in West Sacramento, a sentiment that likely resonates with other free agents eyeing better offers and locations. Historically, the A's have had to overpay to land players, a strategy they employed successfully in the past with utility players like Aledmys Diaz and Jace Peterson, although those deals didn’t yield the expected results.

Nonetheless, the mere interest in Buehler signals a potential shift in the A's strategy, as they seem willing to pursue talent in a higher price range than in previous years. Buehler, not necessarily among the elite arms available, is yet a sought-after target within the mid-tier of free agents. His impressive past—particularly before a challenging recovery period following his second Tommy John surgery—has left many teams hopeful for a resurgence.

In the 2024 season, Buehler's performance was less than stellar. He logged just 75 1/3 innings, sporting a 5.38 ERA, the highest of his career. His strikeout and walk rates were also at career lows, indicating struggles in his pitching mechanics. Despite a drop in velocity, with his average fastball clocking in at 95 mph, and a low strikeout percentage, Buehler's postseason turnaround turned heads.

After an initial rough start in the playoffs against the Padres, where he gave up six runs in five innings, Buehler regrouped remarkably. He went on to pitch ten shutout innings with an impressive 13-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio, including a crucial five-inning shutout in Game 3 of the World Series and a championship-clinching save just two days later. Such performances have etched a positive memory in the minds of fans and pundits alike, but will it be enough to sway team executives, especially in a market that tends to favor consistent performance over brief highlights?

At the end of the season, Buehler appeared to be in the market for a modest one-year deal, a sentiment reinforced when the Dodgers opted not to extend him a qualifying offer worth over $21 million. This decision opens up the field for interested teams like the Braves, who are reportedly contemplating a bid for Buehler, as well as other franchises who might see value in a potential bounce-back player with an eye on a more lucrative multi-year contract down the line.

In conclusion, while the Athletics are showing interest in Walker Buehler, the actual likelihood of a union seems murky at best. As the offseason progresses, all eyes will be on Buehler's trajectory—can he recapture his former glory, and will the A's or another team take a chance on his rebound potential? The answers may define the upcoming free agency landscape.