1998 Oakland Athletics season

The Oakland Athletics' 1998 season involved the A's finishing 4th in the American League West with a record of 74 wins and 88 losses.

Offseason

• October 29, 1997: Dane Johnson was selected off waivers from the Athletics by the Toronto Blue Jays.^[1]
• November 7, 1997: The Athletics traded a player to be named later to the New York Yankees for Kenny Rogers and cash. The Athletics completed the deal by sending Scott Brosius to the Yankees on November 18.^[2]
• November 18, 1997: Tony Batista was drafted from the Athletics by the Arizona Diamondbacks as the 27th pick in the 1997 MLB Expansion Draft.^[3]
• November 26, 1997: David Newhan and Don Wengert were traded by the Athletics to the San Diego Padres for Jorge Velandia and Doug Bochtler.^[4]
• November 22, 1997: Damon Berryhill was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.^[5]
• December 4, 1997: Mark Acre was purchased from the Athletics by the Yakult Swallows.^[6]
• December 5, 1997: Jack Voigt was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.^[7]
• December 16, 1997: Mike Blowers was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.^[8]
• December 22, 1997: Izzy Molina was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.^[9]
• January 22, 1998: Rickey Henderson was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.^[10]
• March 9, 1998: Kevin Mitchell was signed as a free agent by the Athletics.^[11]
• March 17, 1998: Ernie Young was purchased from the Athletics by the Kansas City Royals.^[12]
• March 25, 1998: Doug Bochtler was purchased from the Athletics by the Detroit Tigers.^[13]

Regular season

Opening Day starters

• Rafael Bournigal
• Tom Candiotti
• Jason Giambi
• Ben Grieve
• Rickey Henderson
• A. J. Hinch
• Dave Magadan
• Jason McDonald
• Scott Spiezio
• Matt Stairs^[14]

Season standings

Notable transactions

• June 2, 1998: 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
  • Mark Mulder was drafted by the Athletics in the 1st round (2nd pick). Player signed October 9, 1998.^[15]
  • Eric Byrnes was drafted by the Athletics in the 8th round. Player signed June 12, 1998.^[16]
• June 26, 1998: Aaron Small was selected off waivers from the Athletics by the Arizona Diamondbacks.^[17]
• August 7, 1998: Kevin Mitchell was released by the Athletics.^[11]
• August 9, 1998: Jack Voigt was acquired from the Athletics by the Texas Rangers in a conditional deal.^[7]

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Farm system

References

1. ^ Dane Johnson page at Baseball Reference
2. ^ Scott Brosius page at Baseball Reference
3. ^ Tony Batista page at Baseball Reference
4. ^ Jorge Velandia page at Baseball Reference
5. ^ Damon Berryhill page at Baseball Reference
6. ^ Mark Acre page at Baseball Reference
7. ^ ^{a b} Jack Voigt page at Baseball Reference
8. ^ Mike Blowers page at Baseball Reference
9. ^ Izzy Molina page at Baseball Reference
10. ^ Ricky Henderson page at Baseball Reference
11. ^ ^{a b} Kevin Mitchell page at Baseball Reference
12. ^ Ernie Young page at Baseball Reference
13. ^ Doug Bochtler page at Baseball Reference
14. ^ http://baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1998&t=OAK
15. ^ Mark Mulder page at Baseball Reference
16. ^ Eric Byrnes page at Baseball Reference
17. ^ Aaron Small page at Baseball Reference

• 1998 Oakland Athletics team page at Baseball Reference
• 1998 Oakland Athletics team page at www.baseball-almanac.com
• Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (3rd ed.). Durham, N.C.: Baseball America. ISBN 978-1-932391-17-6.