The Oakland A's are on Their A Game

Trevor Cahill will be striking out batters for many years to come in Oakland.

Courtesy of Swingin’ A’s

The Oakland Athletics and 23-year-old starting pitcher Trevor Cahill have agreed to a five-year-contract worth at least $30.5 million. The contract also includes options for the 2016 and 2017 seasons that would pay the right-hander roughly $13 million each season.

This a great move by the Athletics. Last season, Cahill sported an 18-8 records with a 2.97 ERA, good enough to finish ninth in the American League Cy Young Award voting.

There is a chance that the Athletics are looking into signing multiyear contracts with various other pitchers as well. Gio Gonzalez impressed the Athletics last season with over 200 innings to go along with 15 wins and a sub 4.00 ERA.

Gio Gonzalez could be the next Athletic to be locked up for more than a few seasons.

Courtesy of Zimbio.com

In addition to Cahill, the Athletics have been securing a solid foundation by agreeing to multiyear contract with other core players. The team signed starting pitcher Brett Anderson to four-year extension that could be worth more than $30 about a year ago, and they inked catcher Kurt Suzuki to a four-year deal last July.

Based on their various moves, the Athletics are looking to build a team for today and beyond. Playing in a relatively weak division, aside from the Texas Rangers, the team could become a competitive force in the American League for many years to come. The Seattle Mariners struggled mightily last season, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim fell below .500 after winning the division for three straight seasons.

Starting pitching has always been the key to the Athletics’ success, as evidenced by their low ERA last season. They are continuing to build on that success by locking in durable starting pitchers and a catcher that can handle them.