Usually, A’s FanFest features a half dozen or more new Oakland players. On Saturday, Trevor Plouffe was it - the lone offseason addition without previous A’s service time to attend the team’s big event at Jack London Square.
It’s really just Plouffe and outfielder Matt Joyce who are totally new regulars this year, an astonishingly low number for the rapid-turnover A’s. That’s because focus this season is essentially holding down the fort while the team’s young players get experience and improve, and Plouffe, on a one-year deal, is a good representation of Oakland’s strategy: He’s a veteran with a good clubhouse reputation, and his presence means that Matt Chapman doesn’t have to be rushed while another young player, Ryon Healy, can play more first base, which is more likely to be his future spot than third.