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Jacob Lopez Jacob Lopez Headed west after swap
Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 12:45 PM
The Rays traded Lopez and Jeffrey Springs to the Athletics on Saturday in exchange for Joe Boyle, Jacob Watters, Will Simpson and a compensatory draft pick.
Analysis: Lopez appeared in four games for the Rays last season, giving up six earned runs while striking out eight batters and walking seven across 10.1 innings. His performance improved slightly in Triple-A (4.26 ERA, 1.32 WHIP over 88.2 innings), and his chances of making the Athletics' Opening Day bullpen will likely depend on how well he does during spring training. |
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Jeffrey Springs Jeffrey Springs Headliner in offseason swap
Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 11:15 AM
The Rays traded Springs and Jacob Lopez to the Athletics on Saturday in exchange for Joe Boyle, Jacob Watters, Will Simpson and a compensatory draft pick, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: After signing Luis Severino to the largest guaranteed deal in franchise history, the A's continue to invest into their rotation by acquiring Springs. The 32-year-old southpaw missed the first half of last season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery but returned to start seven games for Tampa Bay, recording a 3.27 ERA and 1.36 WHIP over 33 innings. He and Severino will almost certainly slot in at the top of the Athletics' rotation, but because Springs has surpassed the 45-inning mark only once in his seven-year career, the A's may look to limit his workload in 2025. |
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Ben Bowden Ben Bowden Latches on with Athletics
Thu, Dec 12, 2024, 10:16 AM
The Athletics signed Bowden to a minor-league contract Dec. 9.
Analysis: Bowden, 30, pitched at Triple-A Gwinnett in the Atlanta organization this past season, posting a 4.03 ERA and 35:17 K:BB across 29 innings. The right-handed reliever's lone major-league experience came back in 2021, when he held a 6.56 ERA in 39 appearances with the Rockies. |
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Brent Rooker Brent Rooker Team trying to extend
Mon, Dec 9, 2024, 11:16 AM
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay indicated Friday that the club is looking to sign Rooker (forearm) to a contract extension, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Kotsay was talking to reporters about the recent signing of Luis Severino and noted of Rooker that the team is "hopeful to get something done" with the 30-year-old that would show the Athletics are moving in a new direction in regard to "making commitments to players." Rooker is projected to make around $5 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility this offseason and is under team control through 2027. Athletics general manager David Forst said in November that he did not expect to trade Rooker, and the news that the club is looking to extend him instead certainly backs up that line of thinking. Rooker underwent right forearm extensor surgery but is expected to be ready for the start of spring training. |
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Luis Severino Luis Severino To Athletics on $67 million deal
Thu, Dec 5, 2024, 11:52 AM
The Athletics agreed to a three-year, $67 million contract with Severino on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the deal includes an opt out after the second year. It's an unexpected landing spot for Severino, to say the least, as the $67 million guarantee is the largest in Athletics history. Severino held a 3.91 ERA and 161:60 K:BB over 182 innings across 31 regular-season starts for the Mets in 2024. The A's will play the 2025-27 seasons in Sacramento before moving to their permanent home in Las Vegas in 2028. |
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Seth Brown Seth Brown Avoids arbitration
Wed, Nov 20, 2024, 2:07 PM
The Athletics and Brown avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year contract Wednesday.
Analysis: There's no word on the financial terms of the deal, but Brown was due a modest raise after earning a $2.6 million salary in 2024. The 32-year-old slashed .231/.283/.379 with 14 home runs in 124 games this past season. Brown is likely to play a good amount versus righties again for the Athletics in 2025. |
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Matt Krook Matt Krook Catches on with Athletics
Tue, Nov 19, 2024, 11:04 PM
Krook signed a minor-league contract with the Athletics on Friday.
Analysis: Krook surrendered two earned runs in one inning during his lone MLB appearance with Baltimore last season. He was much more effective during his time with Triple-A Norfolk, however, posting a 3.92 ERA and 1.41 WHIP across 43.2 frames. Now with the A's, the 30-year-old southpaw will most likely fill in as organizational depth at Triple-A Las Vegas. |
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Jason Alexander Jason Alexander Minor-league deal with Athletics
Tue, Nov 19, 2024, 9:47 AM
The Athletics signed Alexander to a minor-league contract Nov. 15.
Analysis: Alexander's lone big-league experience came in 2022 with the Brewers, when he posted a 5.40 ERA over 18 appearances (11 starts). He spent the 2024 season at Triple-A Worcester in the Red Sox organization, holding a 4.42 ERA and 129:39 K:BB across 138.1 frames. |
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Alejo Lopez Alejo Lopez Latches on with Oakland
Tue, Nov 12, 2024, 9:57 AM
The Athletics signed Lopez on Monday to a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to spring training.
Analysis: Lopez reported the news himself on his Instagram account. The 28-year-old is a career .265/.309/.329 hitter over parts of three major-league seasons and is capable of playing all over the diamond. |
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Mason Miller Mason Miller Remaining in bullpen
Fri, Nov 8, 2024, 8:40 AM
Athletics general manager David Forst said this week of Miller that the team is "not talking about moving him back into a starting role," John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Analysis: When the Athletics announced last offseason that Miller would be used as a reliever during the 2024 season, they didn't rule out the pitcher eventually returning to a starting pitching role. However, it appears that ship has now sailed and Miller will be a member of the bullpen moving forward. Miller was one of the best closers in baseball this season, posting a 2.49 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 104:21 K:BB over 65 innings. Given his past health issues, it's not a surprise that the team has opted to leave Miller where he's proven he can stay heathy and effective. |
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T.J. McFarland T.J. McFarland Back in Green and Gold
Thu, Nov 7, 2024, 12:07 PM
McFarland signed a one-year contract with the Athletics on Thursday.
Analysis: McFarland put up a 3.81 ERA and 1.24 WHIP over 56.2 innings last year and tallied 19 holds while pitching in high-leverage situations fairly often. He's likely to retain a similar role in his second year with the A's, though opportunities for saves will be limited as long as Mason Miller is still on the team. |
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Anthony Maldonado Anthony Maldonado Claimed off waivers by Athletics
Mon, Nov 4, 2024, 2:17 PM
The Athletics claimed Maldonado off waivers from the Marlins on Monday.
Analysis: Maldonado struggled during his time in the majors with the Marlins in 2024, posting a 5.68 ERA and 11:7 K:BB over 19 innings. However, he boasts a 32.6 percent strikeout rate in the minors and is under team control for multiple seasons, so it could be a shrewd waiver claim by the Athletics. |
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Justin Sterner Justin Sterner Claimed by Athletics
Mon, Nov 4, 2024, 2:14 PM
The Athletics claimed Sterner off waivers from the Rays on Monday.
Analysis: Sterner, 28, got a cup of coffee with the Rays this season, allowing two runs (one earned) with a 4:1 K:BB over four frames. He collected a 3.28 ERA and 60:17 K:BB across 46.2 innings in 2024 at Triple-A Durham. Sterner will compete for a role in the Athletics' bullpen in 2025. |
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Tyler Nevin Tyler Nevin Removed from 40-man roster
Fri, Nov 1, 2024, 1:51 PM
The Athletics outrighted Nevin to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: It's not the first time Nevin has been outrighted, so he can elect free agency if he wants. The 27-year-old is a career .204/.299/.315 hitter over parts of four major-league seasons. |
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Kyle Muller Kyle Muller Outrighted to Triple-A
Fri, Nov 1, 2024, 1:49 PM
The Athletics outrighted Muller to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Because he's been outrighted before, Muller has the option to elect free agency. The left-hander made all 21 appearances for the A's in 2024 in relief, posting a 4.01 ERA and 36:10 K:BB across 49.1 frames. |
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Armando Alvarez Armando Alvarez Dropped from 40-man
Thu, Oct 31, 2024, 5:27 PM
Alvarez cleared waivers Thursday and was sent outright to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Analysis: The 30-year-old Alvarez posted a .967 OPS in Triple-A across 317 plate appearances in 2024 and reached the majors for the first time, going 9-for-37 with two RBI over 16 games. However, he no longer owns a spot on the Athletics' 40-man roster and will remain in Las Vegas as organizational depth. |
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Austin Adams Austin Adams Outrighted to Triple-A
Thu, Oct 31, 2024, 5:20 PM
Adams (forearm) cleared waivers Thursday and was sent outright to Triple-A Las Vegas.
Analysis: Adams turned in a 3.92 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across 41.1 innings in 2024, but forearm tendinitis has kept him out of action since mid-August. It's unclear if the 33-year-old will be ready for the start of spring training, but he'll now have to re-earn a spot on the 40-man roster whenever he's able to return. |
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Brent Rooker Brent Rooker Undergoes forearm surgery
Fri, Oct 4, 2024, 1:19 PM
Athletics general manager David Forst revealed Friday that Rooker underwent right forearm extensor surgery Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Rooker evidently dealt with discomfort in his elbow/forearm for the bulk of the season. It certainly didn't affect his performance at the plate, where Rooker posted a .927 OPS with 39 home runs, but it could be at least part of the reason he didn't start a game in the outfield after May. Rooker is expected to be 100 percent for the start of spring training. |
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Darell Hernaiz Darell Hernaiz Contributes as in-game replacement
Mon, Sep 30, 2024, 11:04 AM
Hernaiz entered Sunday's loss to the Mariners as a defensive replacement at third base in the seventh inning and went 1-for-1 with a two-run double.
Analysis: Hernaiz made things interesting during his only plate appearance, doubling home Seth Brown and Zack Gelof in the ninth inning to slice a four-run deficit in half. The young infielder played only 48 games at the major-league level during his rookie 2024 campaign, with a near two-month stay on the injured list due to an ankle issue playing a large part. Hernaiz finished with just a .192 average and .503 OPS across 135 plate appearances; however, the combination of his adequate 8.1 percent walk rate and 20.0 percent strikeout rate in his first brush with big-league arms and his career .294/.358/.424 minor-league slash line imply he could certainly take a notable step forward if he remains healthy in 2025. |
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Tyler Nevin Tyler Nevin Drives in two Sunday
Mon, Sep 30, 2024, 10:57 AM
Nevin went 1-for-3 with a two-run double in a loss to the Mariners on Sunday.
Analysis: Drawing his second consecutive start, Nevin finally put the Athletics' first two runs of the day on the board with his seventh-inning two-bagger, which plated Seth Brown and Tyler Soderstrom. The veteran finished the season with hits in three straight games, but after a hot start that saw him hit .313 over his first 26 contests, Nevin produced an anemic .148/.247/.253 slash line across 186 plate appearances (62 games) the rest of the way at the big-league level. |
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