The Athletics have acquired right-hander Edward Mujica and cash considerations from the Red Sox in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations, the teams announced. Right-hander Jarrod Parker has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list to clear a 40-man roster spot for Mujica in Oakland, per MLB.com’s Jane Lee (Twitter link).
This complicated-looking trade likely essentially means that the Red Sox are giving up Mujica, plus a bit of extra money to pay some of the remainder of his $4.75MM 2015 salary, in exchange for a bit of salary relief. The Red Sox designated Mujica for assignment this week after he posted a 4.61 ERA with eight strikeouts and three walks in 13 2/3 innings this year. The former Cardinals closer didn’t make much of an impression after signing with the Red Sox before last season, posting a 3.90 ERA, 6.5 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 in 2014.
Mujica doesn’t throw particularly hard and has modest strikeout totals, not topping that 2014 6.5 K/9 in any of the last four seasons. As a result, his upside appears limited. He’s always had good control and has gotten his fair share of ground balls, however, so perhaps he can provide the Athletics with a decent middle reliever at a reasonable price until he becomes a free agent after the season. The Athletics’ bullpen has produced a 5.29 ERA this season while struggling through injuries, so Mujica looks likely to help.
Start Cleaning House !
Why would the Red Sox do that?
They already fired their pitching coach and optioned Craig to the minors.
For a second I thought that Parker was going to the Red Sox. lol
You forgot to mention its for a PTBNL or cash.
Better than nothing!
Evidently, the A’s learned nothing from the Jim Johnson saga.
Maybe Mujica is a better fit for the bigger park; his problems always seem to revolve around homers, so maybe it’s a better fit? Not like Oakland’s giving up anything for him.
They knew that. Its a numbers game. The more tries, the more successes.
My condolences to Oakland fans
Dave, Dave, Dave! Another missed opportunity. Joba is scary. Al Al has lost 5mph on his fastball. The Tigers pen is still scary!
And would have been scarier if they’d added Mujica.
Nah, you haven’t watched Joba this year. Nesbitt and Wilson have good arms, but consistency is unknown. Joba, unfortunately, has been consistant. I would take a change of scenery candidate over Joba anyday.
I won’t go into all the metrics, but I’m pretty sure if you delve into the numbers, you’ll find that Mujica is highly unlikely to be any better than Joba from this point forward…especially considering the league’s unsustainable .429 BABIP against Joba thus far.
When you throw a straight fastball, and have fallen in love with a weak changeup, the BABIP can be sustained.