This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ A’s Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

As we prepare to turn the calendar to a new year, it is only natural to look ahead at what 2024 might bring for the A’s.

After finishing with the worst record in the Majors, the A's are hopeful that year three of their rebuild can represent a big step toward getting back into playoff contention. They will look to do so with players they identified as pieces of their future last season, while also exploring the trade and free-agent market this offseason for upgrades.

Here’s a look ahead to 2024 for the A’s:

Biggest question to answer before Spring Training
Who will be in the mix to close games?
Trevor May’s retirement this offseason leaves an opening for the A’s closer role that, at this point, does not appear to have a clear favorite. During the Winter Meetings, general manager David Forst indicated that Mason Miller -- Oakland’s top pitching prospect -- is likely to pitch out of the bullpen this season and could be a candidate to close games. Right-handers such as Lucas Erceg and newly signed Trevor Gott also figure to be possibilities, though neither has extensive experience as a closer. The A’s could also still be exploring the trade and free-agent market for a closer-type reliever.

One player poised to have a breakout season
2B Zack Gelof
You can almost classify what Gelof did in 2023 as a mini-breakout, when he received his first call to the big leagues in July and proceeded to hit .267 with an .841 OPS, 14 home runs, 20 doubles, 32 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 69 games. If last year’s impressive cameo was any indication, Gelof might be in line to truly make his presence felt around the league as a budding star in 2024.

Prospect to watch in 2024
RHP Luis Morales (A’s No. 5)
Morales was considered to be the best pitching prospect of the 2023 international market, and he certainly pitched like it last season. The 21-year-old Cuban righty flashed electric stuff across four levels and finished the year at High-A Lansing, combining for a 2.86 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 44 innings. With a repertoire that features a fastball that can reach up to 99 mph and a crisp breaking ball, Morales could continue his rapid ascent through the system in 2024, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him knocking on the door of the big leagues or even breaking through by the end of next season.

One prediction for the new year
Brent Rooker will be an All-Star again
Rooker's sharp drop in production following a strong first month in which he performed as one of the best hitters in baseball led to some viewing his 2023 All-Star selection as somewhat of a fluke, but he turned things around with eight home runs over the final month and still finished what was his first full big league season with 30 homers and an .817 OPS. With Shohei Ohtani now in the National League, that’s one less designated hitter to compete with for a second consecutive All-Star selection in 2024.