Jeff McNeil Trade, Soderstrom Extension, Hopes for Higher Payroll & GM Extension, RIP Will Schock

We are back A’s Day fans, hope you had a wonderful holiday week! Today, we get all caught up to speed with the happenings in A’s universe over the past week. The second base position upgrade was addressed as Jeff McNeil was acquired from the Mets via trade in exchange for RHP Yordan Rodriguez and we will discuss what that means for the 2026 outlook. On Christmas, we were given a present from management as it was announced the team and LF Tyler Soderstrom are in agreement on a 7 year/$86 million historic extension that has once of the franchise pillars locked up through 2031. With the increase in spending, is there an acceptance of a higher payroll? Finally, we pay our respects as we learned this past Sunday long time scout for the A’s Will Schock passed away and we tell his story as our paying tribute. Holy Toledo, let’s go A’s!