The Athletics have claimed righty Parker Bridwell off waivers from the Angels, per a club announcement. He had recently been designated for assignment by the Halos for the second time this offseason.
The 27-year-old Bridwell will give the A’s some much-needed rotation depth. Oakland will be without top starter Sean Manaea for the 2019 season following shoulder surgery, and the A’s have also seen 2018 starters Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson and Edwin Jackson all hit free agency. Right-hander Mike Fiers, too, was briefly a free agent after being non-tendered by Oakland, but he’s since returned on a new two-year contract.
Bridwell struggled through a nightmare season in 2018, pitching just 6 2/3 innings at the Major League level while being clobbered for 13 runs on 14 hits — including five home runs. His Triple-A work wasn’t much better, as injuries limited him to 28 innings and he yielded nearly a run per inning pitched.
However, Bridwell is also only a season removed from 121 innings of 3.64 ERA ball with the 2017 Angels. Bridwell’s meager 5.4 K/9 and near-80 percent strand rate that season called his ability to sustain that success into question, but the A’s are thin on rotation options at the moment and Bridwell now figures to factor squarely into that mix. He’s out of minor league options, so assuming he sticks on Oakland’s 40-man roster into Spring Training, he’ll need to break camp with the team or else once again be exposed to waivers.
Oliver Drake Jr
Ironically, both former longtime Oriole farmhands.
…can’t understand why the O’s, who have priority, didn’t take a shot at him…..his one good year dwarfs the amount of good years on most of their staff…..if he’s half of what he was in 2017, GMs will be drooling at the mouth to get him and his minimum wage salary on July 31…..if not, kick him down the stairs….no harm, no foul….
Because we have a full 40 man and don’t need to take chances on a guy who’s magical run came with crappy peripherals. 4.8 FIP pitching in LA isn’t exactly good. Put him in Camden yards and it’s an absolute disaster
Total Oakland move. Low risk. Pretty good.
hoped he stayed with the angels. oh well!
There’s our 3rd starter. 2 more to go.
Ill re-title it:
Oakland finds old couch on the curb outside Angel stadium. Surprised to find that it smells horrendous when brought inside Alameda Stadium.
Meanwhile back in LA Angels look around at their apartment. A great 120 inch screen TV with a bunch of used lamps and a old dinning table that once was consumer rated the best in 2000.
Simmonds and Ohtani were top 25 players.
NEXT!
It’s not called Alameda Stadium, you should have deleted the terrible post altogether.
Thank you.
Oh good! Another solid move that may earn a playoff spot and won’t lead to a championship!
Oh good! Another stupid comment that adds nothing to the conversation!
Now Bridwell will shine with Oakland as a long relief pitcher.
Not surprised to see him claimed. I doubt Oakland is counting on him to contribute at 2017 levels, but there’s little risk for them here. In fact, if they bargain hunt and sign some FA pitchers, they might end up waiving him.
Manea should be back around the ASB.
Probably not. Most likely September, if he comes back at all.
I smell an ace on the horizon!
Hopefully when The Angels face him he will be in mid 2018 form.
Oakland threw $50M on the table for Encarnacion in December 2016, why can’t they throw $75M at Keuchel in January 2019?
Don’t believe everything you read!
Fixing that plumbing issue at ballpark was costly. It was good to plug that hole.
2017:
Bridwell gave up 22 runs in 9.2 IP against the A’s.
3.33 ERA in 121.1 IP against everyone else.
Am I losing my mind, or did the Twins have him after the Yankees but before the Angels this offseason?
(I know, easy answer: I’m losing my mind)
Personally I just feel bad for this kid. “Your DFA’d. Oh, wait! Now you’re a yankee! Oops super psyche back to the Angels. Nope, DOUBLE PSYCHE! Off to Oakland!” Dude has probably lost deposits on 3 houses by now