The Matt Olson Trade After Just One Season.
How is the deal looking now that a season’s worth of games has passed? The Oakland A’s traded Matt Olson to the Atlanta Braves before to the 2022 season.
After Matt Olson’s impressive 2021 season, and with the Oakland A’s nearing the end of their control over key players, the front office decided it was time to initiate their latest sell-off before the 2022 season. We’re just one year into evaluating this trade, but let’s review its progress so far.
To recap the trade: Matt Olson was sent to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for centerfielder Cristian Pache, catcher Shea Langeliers, and minor league right-handers Joey Estes and Ryan Cusick.
In 2021, Matt Olson had a standout season, hitting 39 home runs, driving in 111 runs, maintaining a .271 batting average, and achieving a .371 on-base percentage. This resulted in an OPS+ of 153, indicating he performed 53% better than the league average. After being traded, Olson hit 34 home runs and drove in 103 runs, though his batting average dropped to .240 with a .325 OBP, and his OPS+ decreased to 122, still a commendable performance.
Although Olson’s post-trade season was solid, it didn’t match his 2021 pace, allowing the trade to be viewed more favorably for the A’s. So, how did the players Oakland received perform?
Cristian Pache made the A’s Opening Day roster in 2022, quickly winning over fans with timely hits and a vibrant personality. Despite his excellent defense, his batting remains a concern. He finished the season with a .166 batting average, a .218 OBP, and an overall 34 OPS+. Pache was sent down to Las Vegas on June 30 and returned to Oakland on August 28. Upon his return, he posted a 75 OPS+ in the second half, albeit in just 46 plate appearances. The A’s plan to be patient with Pache, understanding it may take several seasons for him to realize his full potential.
In the meantime, Pache may already be capable of securing everyday playing time in 2023.
Shea Langeliers was the centerpiece of the trade, with fans clamoring for his promotion to Oakland as he excelled in the Pacific Coast League. In his first month, he batted .301 with 9 home runs and 20 RBI in 20 games.
Langeliers was finally called up to the majors on August 16. In the 40 games he played with the A’s before the season ended, he hit .218 with a .261 OBP, a .691 OPS, and six home runs. He is anticipated to replace Sean Murphy as the primary catcher if Murphy is traded by the A’s.
Regarding the pitchers involved in the trade, neither has debuted in the big leagues, and both dealt with injuries.
Ryan Cusick is currently participating in the Arizona Fall League to accumulate extra innings after an oblique injury during the season. His 2022 season in Midland, which may have been a challenging assignment after spending 2021 in A Ball, concluded with a 1-6 record, a 7.12 ERA, and 30 walks in 43 innings. Cusick, the Braves’ first-round pick in 2021 (24th overall), is a player to watch in 2023.
Then there is Joey Estes, who spent the entire season in Lansing, finishing with a 4.55 ERA over 20 starts, covering 91 innings. He is still developing his pitch mix, but he just turned 21 on October 8. The A’s could either promote him to Midland to see how he adjusts or have him start back in Lansing for a quick refresher before moving him up to Double-A next season.
Overall, this trade doesn’t seem as one-sided as it could have if Olson had maintained his 2021 performance. The A’s have acquired two promising young pitchers still in development, a centerfielder with Gold Glove potential, and their future starting catcher.
Given that the A’s weren’t aiming to contend in 2022, acquiring Shea Langeliers is significant. If they end up trading Sean Murphy, Langeliers is a suitable replacement in the same mold, and the team also reset their control over the catcher position to align with their next competitive window.
Trading Matt Olson and bringing in Shea Langeliers allows the A’s to seriously consider moving Sean Murphy to acquire more impactful prospects for their next competitive cycle. Additionally, having a strong defensive catcher in place allowed the A’s top prospect, 20-year-old Tyler Soderstrom, to play first base 59 times in the minors this season, while still catching in 52 games. In 2021, Soderstrom’s games were split 38 to 9 in favor of catching.
Considering all the moves made and potential future moves related to the Olson trade, this could prove to be a favorable decision by the A’s front office in the long run. The success of this trade will hinge on the return they get for Murphy, whether Soderstrom eventually replaces Olson at first base, and how well Soderstrom performs in that role.
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