The Athletics lost ace Frankie Montas to an 80-game performance-enhancing drug suspension last week, but the team nonetheless seems more focused on improving its bullpen than its starting staff as the July 31 trade deadline nears.
Speaking with the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser on the A’s Plus podcast Monday, general manager David Forst said, in part, “I think the bullpen is probably the first place we look, not because we don’t like the group we have here but because it’s been less consistent than it was last year – which was inevitable.”
The A’s bullpen managed a 3.80 ERA/3.89 FIP a year ago, though the figures have risen to 4.32/4.09 this season as closer Blake Treinen has taken steps backward. Treinen posted a jaw-dropping 0.78 ERA across 80 1/3 innings in 2018, but the number has shot to 4.08 over 35 1/3 frames this season, and the rest of his production has also gone in a discouraging direction. Adding injury to insult, the 30-year-old went to the shelf over the weekend with a shoulder issue.
Treinen’s decline aside, the Athletics have also gotten worse bottom-line production from fellow relievers Lou Trivino, J.B. Wendelken and Ryan Buchter in comparison to last season. Moreover, they lost important 2018 contributors in Jeurys Familia, Shawn Kelley and Fernando Rodney. Familia left for the Mets in free agency, Kelley signed with the Rangers, and Rodney got off to such a horrendous start this year that the Athletics released him at the end of May. And free-agent signing Joakim Soria – whom the A’s gave $15MM to help replace Familia and Kelley – has accounted for a disappointing 4.93 ERA through 34 2/3 innings, though his peripherals indicate it’s way too soon to write off the long-effective veteran.
In better news for the A’s, 2018-19 bullpen innings king Yusmeiro Petit is largely the same pitcher he was last year. While Petit has met expectations, no A’s reliever has been better than Liam Hendriks, who went from outrighted off their roster last July to pitching in a key role down the stretch a year ago. Hendriks has carried that momentum into this season, evidenced by a near-spotless 1.12 ERA/2.39 FIP in 40 1/3 innings.
Petit, Hendriks & Co. are still in obvious need of complements, which is something the A’s may be able to find both in and out of the organization in the coming weeks. Left-handed prospect A.J. Puk and righty Jharel Cotton could impact the team’s bullpen down the stretch. Puk’s on the mend from April 2018 Tommy John surgery, while Cotton underwent a TJ procedure in March 2018 and is now fighting back from a recent hamstring surgery. Even if the A’s expect late-year contributions from Puk and Cotton, though, they could still scour the trade market for help. There are plenty of relievers who figure to wind up on the move before July’s out, with the Giants’ Will Smith, Tony Watson and Sam Dyson, the Padres’ Kirby Yates, the White Sox’s Alex Colome, the Tigers’ Shane Greene and the Orioles’ Mychal Givens among an even larger group of potential trade pieces.
A beefed-up bullpen would take pressure off Oakland’s Montas-less rotation, which doesn’t necessarily look as if it’s primed to welcome outside acquisitions.
“You add a starter toward the end of July, there’s a limited number of appearances you’re talking about,” Forst told Slusser. “Not that I wouldn’t consider adding a starting pitcher but the cost in both dollars and player capital is typically high that time of year for starting pitching. So you have to balance that with the impact a reliever can make more often with the impact the guys from within the organization can make.”
Even with a breakout 90 innings from Montas, this hasn’t been a lights-out statistical year for the A’s starting staff. Mike Fiers, Brett Anderson, Chris Bassitt and Tanner Anderson have prevented runs at acceptable rates over a combined 243 frames. However, the peripherals of Fiers, Anderson and Bassitt portend trouble, and Anderson has a meager three starts and 15 innings to this point. Oakland does have one or two impactful reinforcements on the way, though, including prized lefty prospect Jesus Luzardo. The 21-year-old Luzardo, who’s on the comeback trail from a shoulder strain, could finally make his major league debut in early July, per Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. On the other hand, No. 1 2018 starter Sean Manaea – who hasn’t pitched since undergoing left shoulder surgery last September – is now dealing with right side soreness.
With Luzardo and Manaea still unavailable at the moment, the A’s could recall Daniel Mengden or Paul Blackburn from Triple-A Las Vegas, according to Slusser, who writes southpaw Wei-Chung Wang‘s “a strong possibility” to function as an opener against lefty-heavy lineups. Those aren’t the most exciting options, but if we’re to believe Forst, the A’s seem OK with the starting choices they have on hand.
If the A’s were the worst hitting team In the league they’d go after relief pitching. If they desperately needed a SP or two, they’d go after relief pitching. This is what they do.
The A’s would be wise to get in touch with Theo Epstein. The Cubs now with Kimbrel to join the club, later this week – could be a nice position to work something out with them.
The Cubs now have an overcrowded bullpen and with the possibility that Adbert Alzolay is ready to help out – they may also have a starting pitcher to trade.
If the A’s are interested in Chatwood and Edward’s, then sure… call the Cubs
Yeah we already have a young reliever having control issues, we don’t need another, and that Chatwood contract? No thanks.
Will Smith for Puk straight up? Go easy on me, just a debate starter.
A top25 prospect was considered a steep price for 4 years of Brad Hand and 5 years of Cimber last year. I think the Giants would need to include at least Dyson and Watson for the A’s to even consider that. And even then, I think it’s still an overpay based on recent history.
It’s not a debatable starter, it’s just a simple no for the A’s who have to jump 3 teams just for a chance at a one game wild card.
@Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA, Oakland has 83 games left this season and anything can happen in a lot less games than that. For instance, there was one year that either Philadelphia or the Mets had a 7 game lead over the other with 10 games left to play and lost the division by 1 game. The chances of that happening again is probably less than 10% but anything can happen with over half a season left. The Marlins have held their own with some very good teams since the middle of May and that that goes to show that a lot can happen in a short period of time. The Braves bullpen was pretty bad up until around May 21st but since the acquisition of Swarzak their bullpen has the best ERA of all major league teams.
@Blue_Painted_Dreams_LA, Oakland has 83 games left this season and anything can happen in a lot less games than that. For instance, there was one year that either Philadelphia or the Mets had a 7 game lead over the other with 10 games left to play and lost the division by 1 game. The chances of that happening again is probably less than 10% but anything can happen with over half a season left. The Marlins have held their own with some very good teams since the middle of May and that that goes to show that a lot can happen in a short period of time. The Braves bullpen was pretty bad up until around May 21st but since the acquisition of Swarzak their bullpen has the best ERA of all major league teams during the stretch of games since Swarzak got there.
I’m not arguing that the A’s can’t jump 3 teams or have no shot at the playoffs. My argument is that the A’s biggest need is SP. They also aren’t locked and loaded type of team with one piece missing. Trading the upside of Puk for a rental reliever is not going to happen nor should it. This club has to many missing pieces for it to make an all in move for a rental.
couple weeks ago people were saying the Red Sox were dead and the Rays controlled the East. It only took a couple weeks and the Rays are looking up at the Yankees and see the Red Sox closing in their rear view mirror. It’s a very long season. Anything can happen.
Puk could come to the majors now and probably help us in a sort of long man capacity to prove himself capable of handling more stressful later game situations.
The deviation in his platoon split in the minors is almost nonexistent, and he’s throwing harder now than he was pre-TJS, and because he isn’t throwing as many pitches per outing. He’s been pumping 100mph pretty regularly.
If the Giants want a trade it will not be Puk going but Fowler. Fowler is a OF that is having a decent year in AAA. The other player is Neuse their 3B prospect blocked by Chapman. No reason o throw any of the needed prospects in a trade since they are still no sure bet of postseason.
I’d be okay with trading Fowler. We’d be dealing from a position of organizational depth, and he’s blocking Luis Barrera at this point who I believe will be the all around better player. We should hold on to Neuse, though. Our depth at third isn’t great, and by great I mean it’s literally Sheldon Neuse after Matt Chapman.
Luis Barrera in Double A this year has slashed .323/.359/.518 and he’s gotten high marks as a defender in center. He could take over in center next year or the year after and Laureano could move to right or something.
Really hoping we let Piscotty go sometime soon. We have too many guys in the minors that can give us much more then Piscotty can at this point I feel like. He’s just blocking guys like Martini (who’s tearing up AAA), Bolt, Barrera, Fowler (who I would like to see given another opportunity) and maybe even Barreto in the outfield.
Piscotty could reasonably go in a deal for a reliever. Major league bat, good attitude and work ethic. As much as I hate to trade a guy that grew up an A’s fan and who has dealt with so much over the last few years, I think he and every A’s fan understands that if a move can be made to improve the team it has to be made.
That opens up Pinder/Grossman to platoon in right, allows us to bring Martini up and gives Bolt a real shot next year to take over one of the outfield spots as a regular.
Daniel Hudson is throwing well and is in Oakland’s price range.
Agreed. Hudson is definitely A’s material.
The A’s will end up acquiring Sergio Romo because his contract is 2.5 million.
Depending on how Hendriks performs as a closer, if Trivino rounds back to form and if Wang stays a consistent threat with Buchter against lefties, Romo could be a reliable 7th inning guy. Our bullpen has been much better, even if it’s not as lock down as it was last year.
I feel like that headline could replace “Athletics” with almost any other contender and still be correct. Other than maybe the Yankees, is there any team that is truly satisfied with their bullpen?
Probably. Susan Slusser’s article is about a lot more than just pitching acquisitions ahead of the trade deadline, though. Also includes how the team is choosing to attack extensions ahead of the new ballpark.
Dear Connor,
I believe if you’ve actually done your homework you’d have seen that the A’s and giants don’t trade. I’m pretty sure this dates back quite a while. I honestly don’t think this will change with a new gm or any other factors.
He was simply listing the top relievers who will be available, not implying that any deal in particular was likely. I can guarantee he’s done his homework much more than you considering he gets paid to write baseball articles and you have been relegated to commenting on them.
New GM for the Giants, and he did a lot of deals with the As when he was with the Dodgers
And also began his MLB career with the A’s…
If we get any of the Giants relievers without overpaying for them then Zaidi is a bust as a GM. There are too many other teams with bullpen needs that can afford to give up the prospects for us to be a reasonable trade partner, even with Zaidi’s familiarity with the A’s organization as a factor.
I had to look it up… 28 years since these teams traded a player for a player. It will happen again, I hope they make it memorable.
Hasn’t it been 30 years? Last time the A’s and Giants traded talent was the year they played each other in the world series.
Royals might have something to trade, relief pitcher wise. I’d prefer it was Flynn over Barlow, though
What if they went after Shane Greene and Matt Boyd from the tigers. Boyd is under team control until after 2022 at very cheap and Greene has 1 year of arbitration after this. Tigers and As made a deal last summer for Fiers. Do the As have enough to offer back to Detroit to pull this off?
Nothing in trade.
Fowler, Barreto, a couple lotto tickets. Both are pretty much just sitting in Triple A because they’re blocked, although Barreto could be a candidate to replace Pinder if the team feels he can impact them (Pinder has options) or if they trade Piscotty or something.
Mateo, Nuese, Barrera and Pinder for Boyd and Greene I think keeps Detroit on the line. That’s literally 4 of your Opening Day starting lineup in 2020. Fowler, Holmes and Heim for Stroman. Lazarito for Vazquez. A’s all in.
Exactly what part of how we’re playing screams “all in move”?
Please don’t overpay on anyone. I’d much rather us stay put. We aren’t going to compete this year, save up for next year and the years to come.
Tiger fan here, I feel much the same way… don’t trade Boyd or Greene for prospects. Al Avila has made some terrible trades and we were left with nothing. The “prize” player in the Verlander deal has been hurt since day 1 and seen his prospect rating drop. The other trades have netted us middle infielders that can’t hit in the minors.
Greene is needed to close the few games we are close in. Boyd will look good as a number 3 starter behind Mize and Manning. If he continues to improve, he might be offered a decent contract to stay with the young core. If he doesn’t, he can walk.
I think any A’s fan would be fine with anyone going but Puk, Luzardo and Murphy. The team is in contend mode whether their time line agrees with it or not and you trade from overstock. Free Neuse, free Mateo, let them play.
Anything that costs Luzardo, Puk or Murphy is a gross overpay, no matter who it is. Luzardo helps us this year, Puk helps us out of the pen this year and Murphy is clearly our backstop of the future, despite his injury issues (lots of bad luck injury, though).
I’m pretty sure A’s brass have been saying they want Puk to come to the bigs sooner than later a strict reliever, a Sale/Hader style type. Luzardo isn’t going anywhere, he’ll probably be in the rotation next week, and Murphy is hurt really bad, so I’m thinking those 3 are staying and everyone else is on the table, as long as the return is good, like Boyd.
The A’s will have to make some hard decisions in the outfield and infield in the next 2 years. Laureano has cemented himself in the outfield, but Piscotty isn’t exactly the player we need him to be and Grossman is a stopgap. On the infield side, Semien could still be extended, but Profar is unlikely to be extended until he proves he can be consistent (good slash line this month, good turnaround from a rough start to his tenure here).
We have to be careful how much of that depth we decide to move.
Puk and Luzardo would be a welcomed addition considering the unpredictable nature of the starting rotation….as far as the pen, I know Alexander is a starter in Las Vegas but he screams reliever and has an impressive strikeout ratio per nine and above average swing miss rate…long ball has been his issue for him but it’s the PCL…