The 2023 season was the 123rd season for the Oakland Athletics franchise, and the 56th in Oakland. The Athletics failed to improve on their 60–102 record from the previous season, going 50–112. They started 10–45 in their first 55 games, which tied them with the 1904 Washington Senators and 1899 Cleveland Spiders for the worst 55-game start in MLB history and with a 21–60 first half, were on pace to tie (and at some points in the season, break) the record for most losses in a season in the modern era set by the 1962 Mets before having a 29–52 second half to avoid breaking the record.Worst Record Through 55 Games Since 1900, LastWordSports, May 30, 2023
With their loss on August 8, the Athletics became the fastest team to be guaranteed a losing season since the 2003 Detroit Tigers, who lost 82 of their first 111 games. Despite the MLB adding an additional wild card spot to its playoff field, the Athletics, on August 23, after their loss to the Kansas City Royals, were eliminated from postseason contention, becoming the first team eliminated, as well as the fastest playoff elimination since the 2018 Baltimore Orioles, who were eliminated from playoff contention on August 20, 2018 which was surpassed next season by the 2024 Chicago White Sox.
Although the Athletics showed signs of improvement in the second half of the season, they still became the first team since the 2019 Detroit Tigers to lose 111 or more games, en route to finishing 50–112. The A's finished last or close to last in the American League and in MLB in most batting and pitching categories this season.
The Oakland Athletics drew an average home attendance of 10,275 in 81 home games in the 2023 MLB season. The total attendance was 832,352.
Offseason
Coaching changes On November 7, 2022, the Athletics announced that bench coach Brad Ausmus would not return for the 2023 season. On November 28, the club announced that Darren Bush would be promoted from third base coach to bench coach. The A's also announced that Eric Martins would move over from first base coach to third base, as Mike Aldrete takes over as first base coach. Oakland also named Mike McCarthy as bullpen coach.
Rule changes Pursuant to the CBA, new rule changes will be in place for the 2023 season:
institution of a pitch clock between pitches; limits on pickoff attempts per plate appearance; limits on defensive shifts requiring two infielders to be on either side of second and be within the boundary of the infield; and larger bases (increased to 18-inch squares);
Transactions October 2022 Activated RHPs Collin Wiles, Zack Jackson and Joel Payamps from the 15-day IL. Activated LHP Sam Moll from the 15-day IL. Activated CF Joel Payamps from the 10-day IL. Activated 3B Vimael Machín from the paternity list. Recalled LHP Zach Logue, OFs Cody Thomas and Cal Stevenson, 1B David MacKinnon and SS Kevin Smith from Las Vegas Aviators. Recalled RHP Luis Medina from Midland Rockhounds. Source
November 2022 Sent LHP Sam Selman, RHPs Norge Ruiz, Austin Pruitt and Collin Wiles, and 2B Nate Mondou outright to Las Vegas Aviators. Claimed 2B Yonny Hernandez off waivers from Arizona Diamondbacks. Signed free agent 1B Kevin Cron to a minor league contract.C Stephen Vogt and LF Chad Pinder elected free agency.Activated RHPs Paul Blackburn, Deolis Guerra, Daulton Jefferies and Dany Jimenez from the 60-day injured list.Signed free agent CF Trenton Brooks, 3B Pablo Reyes, and RHP Rico Garcia to minor league contracts. Sent RHP Daulton Jefferies outright to Las Vegas Aviators.Selected the contract of LHP Hogan Harris from the Las Vegas Aviators and the contract of Lawrence Butler from the Lansing Lugnuts.Claimed OF Brent Rooker off of waivers from the Kansas City Royals.LHP Jared Koenig, RHP Deolis Guerra and 1B David MacKinnon elected free agency.Signed free agent RHP Jasseel De La Cruz to a minor league contract. Source
December 2022 Acquired RHP Chad Smith from the Colorado Rockies for RHP Jeff Criswell. Claimed 1B Ryan Noda off of waivers from the Oklahoma City Dodgers. Acquired RHPs Freddy Tarnok and Royber Salinas, C Manny Piña, 2B Esteury Ruiz and LHP Kyle Muller from the Atlanta Braves for C Sean Murphy. Designated 3B Vimael Machin for assignment. Signed free agent RHP Deolis Guerra to a minor league contract. Signed free agent 2B Jace Peterson to a 2-year, $9.5 million contract and SS Aledmys Diaz to a 2-year, $14.5 million contract. Signed LHP Garrett Williams and RHP Brayan Polanco to a minor league contract. Designated 2B's Ernie Clement and Yonny Hernandez for assignment. Acquired cash from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for 2B Yonny Hernandez. Signed free agent RHP Trevor May at a 1-year, $7 million contract. Designated CF Cody Thomas for assignment. Sent 2B Ernie Clement and 3B Vimael Machin outright to Las Vegas Aviators. Signed free agent LHP Jake Fishman and 2B Tyler Wade to a minor league contract and invited them to spring training. Sent CF Cody Thomas outright to Las Vegas Aviators. Invited non-roster RHP's J.T. Ginn, Mason Miller, Daulton Jeffries, Norge Ruiz, 2B Ernie Clement, 3B Zack Gelof, SS's Logan Davidson and Max Muncy, C's Daniel Susac, Kyle McCann and Tyler Soderstrom, CF Cody Thomas and OF Denzel Clarke. Signed free agent RHP Drew Rucinski to a 1-year, $3 million contract. Designated LHP Zach Logue for assignment. LHP Zach Logue claimed off of waivers by the Detroit Tigers. Source
January 2023 Signed free agent RHP Austin Pruitt to a minor league contract. Signed free agent RHP Joe Wieland to a minor league contract. Designated RHP Tyler Cyr for assignment. Signed free agent RHP Shintaro Fujinami to a 1-year, $3.25 million contract. Signed free agent RHP's Alvin Veras, Roberto Urdaneta, Donny Troconis, Luis Morales, Freilyn Guzman, Francis Marte, Paul Chacon, Cristhian Rangel and Wilfred Alvarado, C's Jesus Natera and Ramon Landaeta, SS's Jesus Superlano and Jesus Fernandez, OF's Darling Fernandez, Reynaldo De La Paz and Jeison Lopez to a minor league contract. Released RHP Tyler Cyr. Traded LHP Cole Irvin and RHP Kyle Virbitsky to the Baltimore Orioles for SS Darell Hernaiz. Signed free agent 1B Jesus Aguilar to a 1-year, $3 million contract. Source
February 2023 Traded LHP A.J. Puk to the Miami Marlins for OF JJ Bleday. Signed free agent RHP Drew Steckenrider to a minor league contract. Signed free agent 1B Greg Deichmann to a minor league contract. Signed free agent 3B Jonah Bride to a minor league contract. Signed free agent RHP Frarlyn Martinez to a minor league contract. Assigned RHP's Garrett Acton, Bryce Conley and Joe Wieland, and LHP Austin Briggs to Oakland Athletics. Assigned RHP's Hunter Breault, Chase Cohen, Calvin Coker and Charles Hall to Oakland Athletics. Assigned RHP's Michael Danielak and Trayson Kubo to Oakland Athletics. Source
March 2023 Assigned 2B Cooper Bowman to Oakland Athletics. Assigned SS Darell Hernaiz, C William Simoneit and 1B Greg Deichmann to Oakland Athletics. Optioned RHP Luis Medina and OF Cal Stevenson to Las Vegas Aviators. Assigned SS Jeremy Eierman to Oakland Athletics. Assigned CF Austin Beck to Oakland Athletics. Optioned RHP Adrián Martínez to Las Vegas Aviators. Assigned RHP Ryan Cusick to Oakland Athletics. Assigned RHP Parker Dunshee to Oakland Athletics. Optioned 3B's Jordan Díaz, Jonah Bride and Dermis Garcia and OF JJ Bleday to Las Vegas Aviators. Optioned 1B Lawrence Butler to Midland Rockhounds. Assigned CF Brayan Buelvas to Oakland Athletics. Assigned C Shane McGuire and SS Jose Escorche to Oakland Athletics. Assigned RHP Brian Howard, C C.J. Rodriguez, SS Sahid Venezuela and OF Devin Foyle to Oakland Athletics. Assigned OF Junior Perez to Oakland Athletics. Signed free agent C Carlos Pérez to a minor league contract. Assigned SS's Nelson Beltran and Jack Winkler to Oakland Athletics. Assigned C Carlos Pérez and SS Dereck Salom to Oakland Athletics. Assigned RHP's Vince Reilly, Joelvis Del Rosario and Shohei Tomioka, LHP Kumar Nambiar and OF Caeden Trenkle to Oakland Athletics. Assigned RHP Blaze Pontes to Oakland Athletics. Signed free agent RHP Jeurys Familia to a one-year contract. Placed LHP Kirby Snead on the 60-day injured list (left shoulder strain). Optioned RHP Chad Smith and SS Kevin Smith to Las Vegas Aviators. Traded CF Cristian Pache to Philadelphia Phillies for RHP Billy Sullivan. Signed free agent RHP Colton Eastman to a minor league contract. Source
Regular season Game log Legend Athletics Win Athletics Loss Game postponed / Tie Eliminated from playoff race
|- style="background:#bfb;" | 1 || March 30 || Angels || 2–1 || May (1–0) || Loup (0–1) || Jiménez (1) || Oakland Coliseum || 26,805 || 1–0 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 2 || April 1 || Angels || 1–13 || Sandoval (1–0) || Fujinami (0–1) || Davidson (1) || Oakland Coliseum || 15,757 || 1–1 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 3 || April 2 || Angels || 0–6 || Anderson (1–0) || Waldichuk (0–1) || — || Oakland Coliseum || 14,638 || 1–2 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 4 || April 3 || Guardians || 11–12 || Clase (1–0) || May (1–1) || Morgan (1) || Oakland Coliseum || 3,035 || 1–3 || L3 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 5 || April 4 || Guardians || 4–3 || May (2–1) || Karinchak (0–2) || — || Oakland Coliseum || 3,407 || 2–3 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 6 || April 5 || Guardians || 4–6 || Morgan (1–0) || Jackson (0–1) || Clase (2) || Oakland Coliseum || 4,930 || 2–4 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 7 || April 7 || @ Rays || 5–9 || Eflin (2–0) || Waldichuk (0–2) || — || Tropicana Field || 15,980 || 2–5 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 8 || April 8 || @ Rays || 0–11 || Springs (2–0) || Fujinami (0–2) || — || Tropicana Field || 15,880 || 2–6 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 9 || April 9 || @ Rays || 0–11 || Rasmussen (2–0) || Kaprielian (0–1) || — || Tropicana Field || 11,159 || 2–7 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 10 || April 10 || @ Orioles || 1–5 || Gibson (3–0) || Sears (0–1) || — || Camden Yards || 9,322 || 2–8 || L5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 11 || April 11 || @ Orioles || 8–12 || Baker (1–0) || Moll (0–1) || — || Camden Yards || 12,305 || 2–9 || L6 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 12 || April 12 || @ Orioles || 8–4 || Smith (1–0) || Akin (0–1) || — || Camden Yards || 10,181 || 3–9 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 13 || April 13 || @ Orioles || 7–8 || Bautista (1–1) || May (2–2) || — || Camden Yards || 11,665 || 3–10 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 14 || April 14 || Mets || 6–17 || Santana (1–0) || Kaprielian (0–2) || — || Oakland Coliseum || 11,102 || 3–11 || L2 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 15 || April 15 || Mets || 2–3 || Smith (1–0) || Fujinami (0–3) || Robertson (3) || Oakland Coliseum || 12,967 || 3–12 || L3 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 16 || April 16 || Mets || 3–4 || Yacabonis (1–0) || Moll (0–2) || Robertson (4) || Oakland Coliseum || 17,645 || 3–13 || L4 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 17 || April 17 || Cubs || 1–10 || Wesneski (1–0) || Muller (0–1) || — || Oakland Coliseum || 4,714 || 3–14 || L5 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 18 || April 18 || Cubs || 0–4 || Leiter Jr. (1–0) || May (2–3) || — || Oakland Coliseum || 5,196 || 3–15 || L6 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 19 || April 19 || Cubs || 2–12 || Steele (3–0) || Smith (1–1) || — || Oakland Coliseum || 12,112 || 3–16 || L7 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 20 || April 21 || @ Rangers || 5–4 || Jackson (1–1) || Smith (0–1) || Familia (1) || Globe Life Field || 28,775 || 4–16 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 21 || April 22 || @ Rangers || 3–18 || Heaney (2–1) || Fujinami (0–4) || — || Globe Life Field || 32,388 || 4–17 || L1 |- style="background:#fbb;" | 22 || April 23 || @ Rangers || 2–5 || deGrom (2–0) || Muller (0–2) || Smith (2) || Globe Life Field || 34,916 || 4–18 || L2 |- style="background:#bfb;" | 23 || April 24 || @ Angels || 11–10 || Oller (1–0) || Barría (1–1) || Familia (2) || Angel Stadium || 23,814 || 5–18 || W1 |- style="background:#fbb;"