With the All-Star game behind us, it is now officially “trade deadline season,” with the season’s second half beginning for the A’s tomorrow and the August 2nd deadline just 13 days away.
Last year at this time, the A’s were not serious contenders for the division as the Houston Astros were clearly too good to be expected to blow a lead that sat 7-8 games up on Oakland as the deadline approached. But the wild card was in reach, with 5 teams (BOS, NYY, TOR, SEA, OAK) vying for 2 spots and little separating them in the standings.