A’s Re-Sign Two Left-Handers: What to Expect in 2026
As the 2026 season approaches, the Oakland Athletics are looking to bolster their bullpen with left-handed options. While the team has explored potential signings from the St. Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants, they’ve decided to bring back two familiar lefties for the upcoming year.
Ben Bowden and Matt Krook have both signed minor-league deals with the A’s, adding depth to the bullpen. Though the A’s are still open to adding more free agents, these two pitchers represent a solid starting point for their southpaw roster.
Ben Bowden: A Situational Role in 2026?
Bowden, 31, ended the 2025 season on the A’s injured list with a strained left lat muscle. He had signed a minor-league contract last winter and started the season in Triple-A, where he posted a stellar 1.36 ERA in 39 2/3 innings. He struck out 25.6% of the batters he faced in the minors, although his strikeout rate dropped significantly to 14.9% during his time in the majors.
After being called up to the big league roster on July 25, Bowden made a solid contribution before his injury. He registered a 4.22 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP in 10 innings, and his standout stat was his dominance against left-handed hitters—allowing just one hit in 18 at-bats (.077 average). However, while lefties struggled against him, they still managed to reach base at a .278 clip, and right-handed hitters fared much better against him, batting .296 with a .310 OBP.
Given his ability to neutralize left-handed batters, Bowden could be a valuable situational pitcher for the A’s in 2026, similar to the role T.J. McFarland played in recent years.
Matt Krook: A New Approach After Departure
Krook, who was also signed by the A’s last offseason, made his MLB debut in 2025, including a memorable outing against the San Francisco Giants. His stint with the A’s was brief—three appearances over 3 1/3 innings, with a 5.40 ERA and 1.80 WHIP. His most notable appearance came in May, when he was asked to eat innings in a blowout loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
The A’s designated Krook for assignment in late May, and he was claimed by the Cleveland Guardians shortly thereafter. In the minors with Cleveland, Krook posted a solid 3.19 ERA over 48 innings, with a 1.33 WHIP. One notable change in his approach was his increased reliance on his sinker. In his three big-league appearances with the A’s, Krook used his sinker about 34% of the time, but in the minors, he threw it 63% and 71% of the time in his final two appearances.
This shift in approach could be something to watch as Krook looks to carve out a more prominent role with the A’s in 2026.
While Bowden and Krook’s re-signings are not likely to be game-changers on their own, both pitchers will add depth to the A’s bullpen. Manager Mark Kotsay showed strong management of his bullpen in the final months of 2025, with the team posting a 2.99 bullpen ERA over that stretch. Bowden was a small part of that success, contributing 10 solid innings, while Krook’s opportunities were limited due to timing issues.
With a full offseason to prepare and hopefully more consistent opportunities in 2026, both Bowden and Krook could play important roles for the A’s as the team seeks to improve its bullpen depth and overall pitching performance.
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