Max Muncy Undergoes Knee Surgery
Athletics third baseman Max Muncy (knee) underwent left-knee surgery with Dr. Mike Banffy in Los Angeles last Friday, the team announced. Banffy performed a debridement of the cartilage under the medial patella as well as a platelet-rich plasma injection. Muncy will start his rehab immediately for a full return at spring training next year. The 24-year-old right-handed-hitting infielder appeared in 82 games in 2026 in his second year in the league, slashing .230/.296/.387 with a .682 OPS, nine home runs, 30 RBI, 31 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 284 plate appearances. He had the same number of home runs while batting just .214 (44-for-206) in 63 games played as a rookie in 2025. As long as he does not suffer a setback with his surgically-repaired knee this offseason or in spring training next year, Muncy should compete for a platoon role in Sacramento in 2027 against left-handed pitchers. The best thing going for his fantasy value in deeper leagues going into his third year in the league is his hitter-friendly home park in Sacramento.
Source: A's Communications
Source: A's Communications
Taylor Smith a Top Candidate For Head of Baseball Ops With A's
ESPN Baseball Insider Jeff Passan reports that Boston Red Sox assistant general manager Taylor Smith is considered the top candidate to become the head of baseball operations for the A's. According to Passan, another finalist for the job, Cardinals assistant general manager Rob Cerfolio is expected to stay with St. Louis. Passan previously reported that Sam Fuld, the former general manager of the Phillies, was offered the A's job but will remain in the Philadelphia organization.
Source: Jeff Passan
Source: Jeff Passan
Max Muncy Could Require Offseason Surgery
Athletics infielder Max Muncy (knee) will be re-evaluated at some point in the offseason to determine if surgery is required to fix his left-knee chondromalacia, according to MLB.com. Muncy is expected to return for next season, but it is unclear how much time he could miss in the offseason if he is forced to go under the knife. The 24-year-old former 25th overall pick in 2021 played in 82 games for the A's in 2026 in his second year in the majors, slashing .230/.296/.387 with a .682 OPS, nine home runs, 30 RBI, 31 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 284 plate appearances. Muncy had nine home runs and 23 RBI in 63 games across 220 plate appearances in his first taste of big-league pitching in 2025 as a rookie. If Muncy does have surgery, it is expected to be a minimally invasive procedure, which means he should be ready well before the start of spring training in early 2027. Muncy's power from the right side is intriguing, but he must earn more playing time going into his third year in the Show.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Zack Gelof Emerging as a Must-Add Waiver-Wire Target
Across 343 plate appearances in 2026, Athletics infielder/outfielder Zack Gelof is hitting .256/.324/.453 with 15 home runs, 39 RBI, 57 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. The 26-year-old has had his season disrupted by two separate stints on the injured list due to hand and knee injuries. However, when healthy, Gelof has been highly productive. After posting a 45.5% strikeout rate across 101 plate appearances in 2025, Gelof has lowered his strikeout rate to a much more manageable 25.4% in 2026. He's also shown the ability to play second base, third base, and all three outfield spots, which helps keep him in the A's lineup every day and provides valuable multi-positional eligibility for fantasy managers. Gelof's barrel and hard-hit rates have come down a bit this year as he focuses on making more contact, but his hitter-friendly home environment in Sacramento helps prop up his power numbers. In any league where he's not already rostered, Gelof should be a priority waiver wire target for fantasy managers.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Leo De Vries to Miss Four Weeks With Shoulder Injury
Athletics infield prospect Leo De Vries (shoulder) is dealing with a sore right shoulder and is currently rehabbing in Arizona, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. He is sidelined from throwing for four weeks and is on the seven-day injured list at Double-A Midland. It means that the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, will not play again this season. The 19-year-old Dominican switch-hitter spent his entire 2026 season at Midland, where he slashed .290/.378/.458 with an .836 OPS, 13 home runs, 55 RBI, 34 stolen bases, and 63 runs scored across 93 games and 428 plate appearances. If he is ready later this year, De Vries is an obvious candidate to play in the Arizona Fall League as he continues his development. The 6-foot, 183-pounder should already be stashed in all dynasty/keeper leagues, and he should be popular in redraft leagues to begin the 2027 campaign if he has a realistic chance to earn an Opening Day roster spot out of spring training. De Vries already has an advanced approach at the plate for his age and has high-end power/speed abilities at the premium shortstop position.
Source: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
Source: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
Tommy White Is a 12-Team Upside Pickup
Athletics third baseman Tommy White did not show much in his first two big-league games. Monday changed that. White went 4-for-5 against Arizona and is now 5-for-11 with a walk and no strikeouts since his promotion. He arrived after batting .303 with 10 homers, 64 RBI, and an .818 OPS over 314 minor-league at-bats. Yahoo has him rostered in just 5% of leagues. That is low enough to take a shot in 12-team formats, especially while Nick Kurtz (thumb) remains out. White has started all three games at first base, though that opening may not last once Kurtz returns. He will not help much in steals, either. The appeal is the bat. White is now the Athletics' No. 7 prospect, and RotoBaller has him in the 12-team range. There is enough here to make the move now rather than wait for another big game.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Athletics to Promote Prospect Tommy White, a Must-Add in All Leagues?
The Athletics are calling up corner-infield prospect Tommy White from Triple-A Las Vegas, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. The former star at LSU and second-round pick in the 2024 draft hit a combined .303/.353/.465 with an .818 OPS, 10 home runs, 64 RBI, 53 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 76 games with Las Vegas and Double-A Midland this year before his promotion. The 23-year-old is expected to make his major-league debut in Friday's series opener against the Washington Nationals to kick off the second half for the A's. The A's are a little light on impact corner infielders right now with both Nick Kurtz (thumb) and Zack Gelof (knee) on the injured list during the All-Star break, so White will get his first shot in the bigs to start the second half. Whether the 6-foot, 220-pounder sticks around for an extended period of time into the second half will depend on how he fares offensively. So far as a pro, White has been focused more on making contact than tapping into his raw power from the right side, with low strikeout and walk rates in the minors. White has below-average speed and won't be an asset in steals. For now, only fantasy managers in dynasty and AL-only leagues should be interested in White in what could end up being a short-term stint in the big leagues.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Passan
Can Joshua Kuroda-Grauer Keep his Pace Going into Second Half?
Athletics rookie infielder Joshua Kuroda-Grauer has looked great early on in his first taste of the major leagues, going 19-for-45 (.422) with five doubles, an RBI, and four runs scored in his first 12 games since being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas. The 23-year-old former third-rounder in 2024 out of Rutgers is considered the club's No. 8 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he got the call to the big leagues after slashing .323/.367/.478 with an .845 OPS, seven home runs, 44 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and 76 runs scored in 75 games between Las Vegas and Double-A Midland. Kuroda-Grauer has been a useful infield replacement after injuries struck shortstop Jacob Wilson, third baseman Zack Gelof, and first baseman Nick Kurtz towards the end of the first half of the season. The 5-foot-10, 205-pounder has excellent bat-to-ball skills, helping him hit for high averages, but it remains to be seen if he'll ever be able to develop plus power. Once Gelof can return from the injured list in the second half, Kuroda-Grauer could be headed back to Vegas for more minor-league seasoning.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Zack Gelof Heads Back to Injured List With Knee Laceration
The Athletics announced on Friday that they placed utility player Zack Gelof (knee) on the 10-day injured list with a right-knee laceration and recalled infielder Joey Meneses from Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move. Gelof injured his right knee making a nice sliding catch in foul territory in Thursday's game against the Detroit Tigers, and he'll now head back to the IL after returning from a stint on the sidelines due to a hand laceration. The 26-year-old former second-round pick in 2021 out of the University of Virginia has been hampered by injuries in his career before, but this time it's even more frustrating, as Gelof has played well for the A's in 2026 when available, slashing .273/.327/.476 with an .802 OPS, 11 home runs, 29 RBI, 41 runs scored, and eight stolen bases across his 227 at-bats. Fantasy managers seeking power and speed for the second half shouldn't forget about Gelof, who is eligible at second base, third base, and the outfield in Yahoo leagues. While he's out, veteran Jeff McNeil figures to see most of the playing time at the hot corner in Sacramento.
Source: A's Communications
Source: A's Communications
Zack Gelof Exits Thursday's Game With Knee Injury
Athletics infielder/outfielder Zack Gelof (knee) was forced from Thursday's game early in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers after making an amazing sliding catch in foul territory down the third-base line, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. Gelof went 0-for-1 at the plate before he was replaced in left field by Colby Thomas. Lawrence Butler entered the game to play right field for the A's. The 26-year-old had just returned from the injured list over the weekend due to a hand injury, but now he's hurt again. It remains to be seen how serious Gelof's right-knee injury is, but with only three games remaining before next week's All-Star break, the A's could be cautious with Gelof and hold him out for this weekend's series in Chicago against the White Sox. Before injuring his hand, Gelof had become an intriguing waiver-wire pickup with eligibility at second base, third base, and the outfield in Yahoo leagues. He entered Thursday's game with a .274/.328/.478 slash line, an .806 OPS, 11 home runs, 29 RBI, 41 runs, and eight steals in 66 games played. Gelof's power/speed upside is more interesting in 2026 since he has a career-low 25.2% strikeout rate.
Source: The Detroit News - Chris McCosky
Source: The Detroit News - Chris McCosky
A's Send Max Muncy Down to Triple-A
The Athletics optioned infielder Max Muncy to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday to clear a roster spot for the return of first baseman/outfielder Tyler Soderstrom (hip) from the 10-day injured list, according to MLB.com. Muncy will most likely be back in Sacramento with the A's at some point in the second half of the season for infield depth, but for now, he'll head to the farm and work on making more contact with the baseball. In his second big-league season, the 23-year-old former 25th overall pick in 2021 has hit just .227/.303/.396 with a .699 OPS, five home runs, 20 RBI, 24 runs scored, three stolen bases, and a 33.1% strikeout rate in 46 games across 175 plate appearances. Muncy hit only .214 (44-for-206) with nine homers, 23 RBI, 17 runs, and a 30.9% strikeout rate in his first 63 major-league games for the A's in 2025. The right-hander has eligibility at second base, third base, and shortstop and has decent power, making him attractive to fantasy managers in deeper leagues. Right now, Muncy is only rostered in 6% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer Emerging as a Batting Average Asset on the Waiver Wire
Athletics infield prospect Joshua Kuroda-Grauer has gotten off to a hot start since making his MLB debut on June 29, logging 12 hits in his first 27 big-league plate appearances. The 23-year-old opened 2026 in Double-A before being promoted to Triple-A in mid-May, hitting .323/.367/.478 with seven home runs, 44 RBI, 76 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases across 365 plate appearances split between the two levels. Kuroda-Grauer has gotten near-everyday run since his promotion and has a chance to emerge as the Athletics' primary third baseman if he can continue to produce. His power upside for fantasy managers is minimal, as he logged a 2.2% barrel rate at Triple-A this season. However, Kuroda-Grauer owns elite contact skills and stole 27 bases across 121 minor league games in 2025. For fantasy managers looking for some batting average and speed upside, Kuroda-Grauer could be worth targeting on the waiver wire.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Is Max Muncy a Worthy Power Target for Deep-League Managers?
Across 175 plate appearances so far this season, Athletics infielder Max Muncy is hitting .227/.303/.396 with five home runs, 20 RBI, 24 runs scored, and three stolen bases. The 23-year-old opened the year as the near-everyday third baseman for the Athletics, but he suffered a fractured hand in late April that sidelined him until early June. Since his return, Muncy has been limited to more of a part-time role and is currently behind infield prospect Joshua Kuroder-Grauer on the A's depth chart at third base. Still, Muncy owns an 11.1% barrel rate and a 48.5% hard-hit rate this season. If Kuroder-Grauer runs into some early-career struggles, Muncy could work his way back into a regular role for the Athletics. In deeper league formats, fantasy managers may want to consider targeting Muncy on the waiver wire for his power upside.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Max Muncy Making a Case as a Deep-League Power Add?
Athletics infielder Max Muncy has not exactly torn the cover off the ball since returning from a fractured left hand, but he has supplied some useful pop. Over 18 games since June 8, Muncy is 13-for-57 with three home runs and 13 RBI. He now has five homers, 20 RBI, 22 runs, and three steals across 149 at-bats this season. That is not enough to make him a shallow-league priority, especially with a 32.9% strikeout rate and recent work from the seventh spot. Still, Muncy is hitting the ball much harder than he did last season, posting a 48.5% hard-hit rate and 11.3% barrel rate. Yahoo lists him at 7% rostered, and his eligibility at second base, third base, and shortstop makes him easier to fit into a lineup. He is a reasonable add in 15-team formats and someone to monitor for fantasy managers searching for infield help in 12-team leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Zack Gelof Placed on Injured List With Hand Injury
The Athletics are placing infielder/outfielder Zack Gelof (hand) on the 10-day injured list with a laceration and contusion on his hand that he suffered on Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. Hopefully, Gelof will only need to spend the minimum 10 days on the IL with what seemed like a relatively minor injury. Until then, Max Muncy should see most of the playing time at the hot corner in Sacramento for the A's. Gelof's injury comes at a really bad time, as the 26-year-old former second-rounder in 2021 out of the University of Virginia had just started to find his stride offensively in 2026 in his fourth MLB season. Through 62 games and 228 plate appearances so far this year, Gelof has hit .282 (59-for-209) with 11 home runs, 29 RBI, 40 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. In 19 games in June, he's gone 23-for-70 (.329) with five homers, six doubles, 10 RBI, 19 runs, and two steals in 78 plate appearances. Gelof's recent hot streak made him a priority waiver-wire target in fantasy leagues, and he's currently rostered in 66% of Yahoo leagues for his power/speed upside in a hitter-friendly home ballpark.
Source: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
Source: MLB.com - Martin Gallegos
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