A’s pivot during ’16, usher in youth movement

OAKLAND — Slowed by poor play and injuries, the A’s stumbled to the finish line for a second straight season, their disappointing performance of 2015 stuck on repeat.

Buried quickly after a sluggish start, the A’s never found their groove; losing streaks lasted too long, winning streaks were too short. By the midpoint of the season, they were left staring down a familiar path. Armed with a pair of big trade chips, the A’s dealt both — sending longtime outfielder Josh Reddick and veteran starter Rich Hill to the Dodgers in exchange for three pitchers.

The trade hurried along a youth movement that largely defined the A’s second half and provided some of the brighter spots in an otherwise disappointing campaign — including the rise of rookie third baseman Ryon Healy. Fellow rookies Sean Manaea and Jharel Cotton had dominant stretches on the mound, standing out among a slew of youngsters who made their big league debuts.

• A’s transition period will continue in 2017

Memorable moments proved few and far between for others, though. For the first time in his career, right-hander Sonny Gray succumbed to a prolonged period of struggles and never quite found a fix — his season twice interrupted by injury, to boot.

The disabled list became far too popular a spot for many other A’s players, too, largely contributing to another season gone awry.

Record: 69-93, fifth place, American League West

Defining moment: The Aug. 1 trade of Reddick and Hill reflected a shift in focus toward the future, as the A’s acknowledged the reality of their place in the standings. Though very similar to the flurry of deals that signaled the white flag in 2015, this move felt different — involving a fan favorite in Reddick, who had hoped to ink a contract extension with the club. Another longtime member of the …

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