A’s Make Risky Roster Decisions Involving Former First-Round Picks
The Oakland Athletics made several notable moves ahead of Tuesday’s 40-man roster deadline, adding three prospects while leaving two former first-round selections unprotected.
The A’s selected Braden Nett (their No. 4 prospect), Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang (No. 29), and Junior Perez (unranked) to the 40-man roster, shielding them from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft. But the more eye-opening choices were the players they left off.
The biggest surprise for many was that former first-round pick Daniel Susac was not added. As the organization’s No. 11 prospect, he will now be exposed to the Rule 5 Draft — though the A’s are betting that his position as a catcher will keep teams from selecting him. Catchers are rarely taken in the Rule 5; since 2021, only Kekai Rios and Liam Hicks have been chosen, and only Hicks has reached the majors.
Not adding Susac likely helped Oakland protect Perez, a player the front office is extremely high on. Perez is a power-speed center fielder with strong defensive potential.
Another move on Tuesday was the A’s decision to designate JJ Bleday for assignment. Bleday had slipped on the depth chart behind Denzel Clarke in center field, and the addition of Tyler Soderstrom in left further squeezed his opportunities. It was anticipated that Bleday would either be traded or DFA’d this offseason, and the latter has now happened. The A’s will see if they can move him in the coming days; otherwise, he may be claimed by another club.
More on the Players Added to the 40-Man
Nett, a key piece in the return for Mason Miller, spent the 2025 season in the Double-A Texas League. He posted a combined 6–7 record with a 3.75 ERA across 24 starts between San Antonio and Midland, striking out 116 batters in 105.2 innings and allowing only eight home runs.
Perez started 2025 in Midland, hitting .201 with 14 homers and 53 RBI over 95 games before a late-season promotion to Triple-A Las Vegas. There, he took off, hitting .298 with 12 home runs in 42 games. Across all levels, he finished with 26 homers, 87 RBI, 27 steals, and an .821 OPS. He led the A’s minor league system in runs, homers, RBI, walks, extra-base hits, and total bases.
Zhuang spent the entire 2025 season with Double-A Midland, where he went 6–11 with a 4.08 ERA in 28 appearances (26 starts). He led all A’s minor leaguers — and ranked second in the Texas League — with 145 strikeouts. Signed out of Taiwan in 2021, he has compiled a career 3.55 ERA while walking just 56 hitters in 273.2 innings.
Bleday, originally acquired from Miami in the A.J. Puk trade in 2023, now becomes the latest roster casualty. With these moves, the A’s 40-man roster is full — but with the Rule 5 Draft nearing, another cut may be necessary if Oakland plans to select a player.
No Comment! Be the first one.