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The Athletics ended 2024 optimistic about their starting rotation going forward. JP Sears once again proved he is as durable as they come -- becoming the first A’s pitcher to make 32 starts in back-to-back seasons since Gio Gonzalez in 2010-11 -- and rookies Joey Estes, Mitch Spence and J.T. Ginn made encouraging progress throughout the season.

Still, even though the A’s pitching staff is a lot more stable than it was around this time last year, it is still an area the club will look to address. During last week’s General Managers Meetings in San Antonio, GM David Forst indicated pitching and third base as the top two priorities for the A’s this winter.

Earlier this offseason, Forst noted that he expects team payroll to increase for 2025 as the club moves into its temporary new home of Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. That said, do not expect the A’s to be involved in bidding wars for premier arms on the open market like Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell or Max Fried.

Instead, the A’s will likely explore the secondary tiers of the free-agent market, searching for an experienced veteran-type starting pitcher who could potentially help ease the burden on their younger pitchers while also helping the club towards its goal of getting back to playoff-contending baseball next season.

Here’s a look at some free agents in that tier who might fit that description:

LHP Jose Quintana
Age: 35
2024 regular-season stats: 3.75 ERA, 31 GS, 135 K, 63 BB, 170 1/3 IP
There is nothing dazzling about Quintana, whose fastball averaged 90.7 mph last season. But his reliability as an innings-eater is unquestioned. The left-hander has racked up no less than 165 2/3 innings in nine of his 13 Major League seasons. Despite the low velocity and lack of strikeouts, he utilized his ability to generate soft contact effectively to help the Mets reach the postseason in '24.

LHP Andrew Heaney
Age: 33
2024 regular-season stats: 4.28 ERA, 32 G (31 GS), 159 K, 41 BB, 160 IP
The A’s are quite familiar with Heaney from their frequent American League West encounters over the past several years during his time with the Rangers and Angels. Tallying 307 1/3 innings with a 4.22 ERA over the previous two seasons with Texas, Heaney still profiles as a solid back-end rotation piece on a playoff-contending team, so he will likely generate vast interest around the league.

RHP Michael Lorenzen
Age: 32
2024 regular-season stats: 3.31 ERA, 26 G (24 GS), 97 K, 60 BB, 130 1/3 IP
Lorenzen is a pitcher the A’s have expressed interest in over the past two offseasons during free agency. An All-Star in 2023, the right-hander has pitched for four different teams (Tigers, Phillies, Rangers, Royals) over the past two years with solid success in each stop. Expect the A’s to once again inquire about the California native.

RHP Frankie Montas
Age: 31
2024 regular-season stats: 4.84 ERA, 30 GS, 148 K, 66 BB, 150 2/3 IP
The A’s checked in with Montas’ agent about a possible reunion last offseason before he signed a one-year deal with the Reds. Traded to the Brewers midseason in 2024, the right-hander had a bit of a down year returning from shoulder surgery with his strikeout rate down and walk rate up from what it usually has been in the past. Montas enjoyed by far the most success of his career with the A’s from 2017-22. His fastball velocity can still reach the upper 90s. Perhaps a return to his old organization can help him reestablish as a top-tier arm, while the A’s would gain valuable leadership for their young pitching staff in addition to Montas’ quality arm.