Meneses Outrighted: Oakland Clears First-Base Depth, Opens Path to Free Agency

The Oakland Athletics outrighted first baseman Joey Meneses on Monday, completing the transaction cycle that began when they designated him for assignment over the weekend. Meneses, who signed a minor league deal in the offseason and was promoted to the MLB roster in June, now faces a familiar crossroads: accept an assignment to Triple-A or decline and become a free agent.

This is not Meneses' first rodeo. He carries a previous career outright on his record, which grants him the contractual right to reject assignment and walk. The timing matters. Meneses is 31 years old and has bounced between the majors and minors repeatedly. A return to Oakland's system holds no appeal when the alternative is unrestricted free agency at mid-season.

Oakland's move reveals an organizational patience with its rebuild that doesn't include Meneses at first base. The team is clearly comfortable shedding veterans in favor of younger options, and a 31-year-old journeyman with limited recent MLB leverage fits the profile of expendable depth. Meneses will almost certainly elect free agency rather than accept demotion.

From a betting standpoint, Meneses' departure from Oakland removes him from any Athletics team-total prop calculus for the remainder of the season. His June callup had contributed sporadic at-bats and power upside, but he was never a cornerstone of their lineup construction. The real signal here is Oakland's willingness to clear payroll and roster space—a posture that favors unders on the A's team total for the rest of the season, as the club prioritizes youth development and financial flexibility over short-term production gains. With Meneses headed to free agency and likely to pursue opportunities outside MLB (including reports of interest in the Mexican League, where his age and skill set remain valuable), Oakland's offensive depth is one tier thinner.