The Athletics have made a series of roster moves; most notably among them is the DFA of right-hander Santiago Casilla. The club also selected the contract of 25-year-old righty J.B. Wendelken, while simultaneously optioning righty Ryan Dull, promoting infielder Franklin Barreto and reinstating righty Daniel Mengden from the 10-day DL.
It’s been a solid enough season for the 37-year-old Casilla on the surface, who owns a 3.16 ERA through 31 1/3 innings pitched. But his 4.08 FIP and 5.80 xFIP paint a wildly different picture. He’s also walked nearly as many hitters (20) as he’s managed to strike out (22), in part due to a career-low 9.0% swinging strike rate. As Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle notes, he’s likely to go unclaimed; Casilla is in the second season of a two-year, $11MM deal, and any claiming team would be on the hook for the prorated portion of his salary. He’ll likely be given the choice to accept a minor league assignment.
Wendelken will be making his first appearance in the majors since 2016, when he tossed 12 2/3 rough innings for the Athletics to the tune of a 9.95 ERA. The right-hander ultimately required Tommy John surgery, and remained out of commission until the beginning of this season. Thus far at the Triple-A level, he’s chucked a healthy 28 1/3 innings, managing a 3.49 ERA (2.39 FIP). The most impressive part about Wendelken’s performance this year is a whopping 14.29 K/9 against just 2.54 BB/9; it certainly seems likely that he’ll prove an upgrade over Casilla.
Mengden, 25, hasn’t pitched since June 23rd after suffering a right foot sprain during a start in which he gave up five earned runs across just two innings. While Mengden certainly isn’t known as an overpowering pitcher (5.46 K/9), he limits walks (1.89 BB/9) and has posted a 4.47 ERA on the season thus far in 90 2/3 innings.
This is a dumb move on the A’s part.
Casilla has been solid this season. Why not try and get something for him? They probably would have been able to get something back if they ate some money. Eating money wouldn’t have been an issue, seeing as how they’re cutting him loose and paying him anyway. Plenty of teams out there in need of middle relief boosts.
I could see a non-contending team without much in regard to financial commitments taking him and pulling a Juan Nicasio (Phillies last August).
Don’t you think they tried, also designating him gives them 10 days to try some more
I would not mind having a non-contending team take on Juan Nicasio right now.
Because nobody wants a late 30 year old guy who has nearly as many walks than K’s, and has gotten lucky to get outs.
Casilla has been living on luck all season with a .210 BAPIP. The A’s need high leverage pitchers besides Trivino and Treinen. Casilla was a very expensive mop up man and they already have that in Petit.
Casilla numbers are misleading. He pitched well in blow outs but when the game was on the line he always blew up and walked lots of batters.
exactly. He does fine under no pressure situations.
its easy. teams are not going to trade for a pitcher that’s been average when they know he’ll be available at the league minimum. that’s even if they want entertain the idea.
disagree, get him out of the pen and off the team. He is useless and I was disappointed when the A’s signed him for two years and at 11 million a year. I am unsure of you follow the A’s but if you did you’d agree to this move.
Odds are they have tried. It isn’t entirely surprising that no one wants to give up anything for a late 30s reliever with a 22 to 20 K/BB ratio.
thank you so much for this lol
Wendelken over Wahl is a bit of a surprise
Next guy to DFA is Chris Hatcher. Guy is garbage with -.2 bWAR. Do not get what they see in him.
bye Torchiago Gascanilla
I can see Oakland being a dark horse team to get a big package back from San Diego. A mix of guys who can help now and in the future when they move into their new ballpark.
How about Brad Hand to slide in front or either behind Blake Treinen and to add to what has already been a fantastic bullpen. Add Travis Jankowski who can be a top of the lineup table setter/ better defensive option to Cahna/Davis/Piscotty. Finally bring Tyson Ross back for some quality starts down the stretch, if Oakland can handle their business against Seattle down the stretch they can overtake them for that second wild card, Ross’s slider plays well against those right handed bats.
So: Brad Hand, Travis Jankowski and Tyson Ross for Jesus Luzardo, Franklin Barretto, Jorge Mateo and Lazarito.
It’s a haul for San Diego but that’s what it’s going to take to get Hand. Oakland has the prospects and are in a good situation to take a chance this year. Even after that deal they still have a ton of pitching prospects left, and Brad Hand for the next 3 seasons.
No way that would happen. Luzardo is not going to be traded because the A’s have no other good pitching prospects that are healthy. Ross has been inconsistent this year and Jankowaski is a platoon OF. Padres would be thrilled to have that package even without Luzardo in it.
Knowing A.J. Preller’s attraction to left handed starting pitching, he probably wouldn’t budge if at least one of Luzardo/Puk were involved.
Puk is so elite I think acquiring teams line medical reports up with competitive timelines, he should be ready to contribute when the Padres are ready to compete. He does Oakland no good on the DL but Brad Hand added with those current guys give them immediate impact.
Preller is being a moron on this though, Hand isn’t THAT valuable and, like Ken Giles before going to Houston, he’s never played meaningful baseball. Could easily see him falling to pieces when the pressures on, Hand really does come off like Giles 2.0.
Parker Dunshee’s been healthy all year too…but there is no way in hell Forst is dealing Luzardo
They could get a LOT more for that package than the overrated Hand, like deGrom.
That package is too much for hand but it’s way too light for degrom. He’s not finding his way to Oakland w that kind of package. Mateo looks atrocious and Barretto still has ridiculous swing and miss problems. They’d find a better offer elsewhere. Quite easily.
Mateo has started hitting and Barreto is still only 22. I wouldnt want Degrom if thats what it took.
This might be one of the worst trades ive seen in a long time. Thise are 4 premier talents for a back up outfielder, an oft injured pitcher and a guy who hasn’t been that good this year. Thumbs down.
I agree, this is a mega homer trade from a Padres fan. Why even go after Hand when Familia could be had for way less than that? Zach Duke could probably be had for basically nothing. A’s do need to upgrade Dull and Hatcher really bad, but Hand is not the guy and SD does not match up with Oakland at all here.
Just gor fun, I was going through the A’s top 30 prospects list and when you look at it, this trade would even seem worse. Matteo & Barreto will probably both start next year in Oakland, with Baretto playing 2nd (or maybe SS) and Matteo pairing up with Chad Pinder to be super-subs who between the 2 of them can play 7 positions. And Oakland’s weak spots are healthy starters (not a Ross specialty) and some spark in LF or catcher (although Lucroy has played well behind the plate). Right now, Ryan Buchter is a better pitcher than Hand so hand would be the 4th best option out of the pen.
I’m not sure they need another LF right now. Canha has his best range there, with 3 DRS. He’s quite acceptable as a platoon centerfielder against lefties, but Mateo could be able to fill in there. I’m doubtful they re-sign Joyce, so that’d open a slot next year.
Baretto, Mateo, Puk/Luzardo … why not just slap Murphy in there because this trade proposal is clearly just a shopping list of “top 100 prospects in the A’s system.”
The A’s have Trevino before treinen and our bullpen is decent. I don’t agree with bringing Tyson Ross back to Oakland.
Hahaha. That would be the most lopsided trade I’ve ever seen. Let’s give our 4 best (healthy) prospects for a closer that we don’t actually need.
Not to play a wildcard game. If they were ahead in the division by 6 games, maybe.
Hatcher and Dull are way, way, WAY worse than Casilla. They better be next. Wahl is way better than both of them.
Adios Jairo Garcia
Would the A’s want Jake Odorizzi?
Giants will be all over this. They always look for opportunities to bring back SF alumni no matter how gassed or ineffective they are.
I doubt it. Luxury tax, and also most of the Giants’ fanbase strongly dislikes Casilla.
Still waiting for them to designate Hatcher and call up Bobby Wahl. Why has Wahl been overlooked…injury history or is he just a clubhouse jerk?