This is a big offseason for Athletics No. 21 prospect Cole Conn. After batting .286 with a .389 OBP and a 116 wRC+ (100 is league average) over the course of 106 minor-league games in the A's system, he's now Rule 5 eligible. 

The switch-hitting 25-year-old catcher will either need to be added to the A's fairly crowded 40-man roster or be left unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft — if there is one once the expected labor strife is through.

After the club lost former first-rounder Daniel Susac in last year's Rule 5, it would be difficult for the organization to lose yet another backstop option with Shea Langeliers just two seasons away from free agency.

Conn is currently in Arizona playing the Fall League and has made it into three games thus far, going 4-for-13 (.308) with two doubles, a triple, and two stolen bases. That's certainly a hot start that could serve as the catalyst for getting him onto the A's 40-man. 

While Conn has been excelling with the bat this year, he still only has 36 games played in Triple-A, which could leave the A's with some uncertainty about his status when the season begins.

That timeline is going to be very important to the club as well, because keeping Conn on the roster would take up a spot all offseason, limiting potential moves to pick up pitching on the waiver wire, among other additions. 

The other piece of the equation is that if Conn isn't viewed as ready to take the backup spot behind Langeliers to begin the season, then the A's would have to carry a third catcher on the roster — presumably a veteran — that would limit the team's roster flexibility further. 

Of course, one way around this factor would be to add Conn by the Rule 5 deadline and then bring in a veteran backstop on a minor-league deal. That way a third catcher wouldn't take a 40-man spot throughout the offseason and could take a roster spot from an injured player when the season begins. 

That said, the A's don't have any players who are expected to begin the 2027 season on the 60-day IL at this point, so this may not work out as intended. Instead, they may have to remove a different player from the 40-man after spring training to make room, which is also a fairly straightforward path.