The latest minor moves from around the sport…
- The Athletics will bring right-hander Paul Blackburn back into their big league Spring Training camp after Blackburn cleared waivers. (Shayna Rubin of the San Jose Mercury News was among those to report the news.) Blackburn was designated for assignment earlier this week. The grounder specialist has a 5.69 ERA over 99 2/3 innings in the majors, all since Oakland since the start of the 2017 season, and Blackburn’s usage has dipped over each of those four years — he appeared in just one game in 2020. With a decent track record as a starter in the minors, however, Blackburn does provide the A’s with some rotation depth.
a little surpsied he cleared. is he out of options?
he is
yeah that explains it
Can NEVER have enough Pitching, plus he’s a local boy done good. However, it will likely take a rash of injuries for Blackburn to appear again in the majors. Starting rotation set with Bassitt, Manaea, Montas, Luzardo and Fiers. Next in line are Puk, Kaprelian, Jefferies, and Holmes. Blackburn fits somewhere in that second group.
i mean maybe this year. he can catch on with another team in minor league free agency when he gets there.
Bassist, Montana, Luzardo, and most often Manaea have been injured, not to mention Puk and Kaprrlian. Yes, grab as much pitching as you can!
Montas. Stupid auto correct
A’s still reaping the rewards of that Danny Valencia trade
Fantastic depth piece, he’s a serviceable guy even in a playoff game in a short stint, consistency the big factor there.
I’m still salivating over the Frankie Montas and Tyler Soderstrom for Brandon Lowe trade I heard the other day. Love that deal for both sides, Soderstrom will be something special and Lowe fills that 2B void the A’s have had since Mark Ellis.
I’m not sure we are watching the same off-season (or history) for the A’s….. they are not spending any money on a 2B and to take on Lowe’s contract will hurt unless the Rays kick in 20M. Most likely Allen will be at SS in July and Elvis moves to 2nd.
I’m not sure shipping Montas out at this point is wise…. but when has the FO of the A’s show wisdom in their moves…
Lol how much $ do you think Lowe makes? His contract was only 6 years and $24 million TOTAL with a couple of options. How in the world would that “hurt” the A’s???
He’s owed about $19m in the next 4 years. A’s offered a Sieman a deferred 12m contract over 10 years for 1 year of service… so why in the world would they take on 19m in 4 years?
The A’s just took on $11M for Rosenthal – do you really think they’re not spending any money? I think its their MO to spend under $50M on all players, but they still are spending my man!
Yeah, but that’s Rosenthal on a one year (or deferred over 3 years) deal…being under a contract for 4 years for 20m plus a 1m buyout is not a typical A’s move.
There is absolutely no chance in hell the A’s are parting with either!!! Lowe can stay where he is. Put Machin/pinder platoon
I would guess Rays don’t touch that with Frankie’s “supplement” history
Machin/Pinder platoon sends them to the same ol same ol: another early playoff exit. They need an everyday MLB player there, Lowe is a perfect fit.
They will not settle for less than an every day second baseman. My hope is that Jed Lowrie is back in great health, he was our best hitter in 2017 and 18. If he is totally healthy, he’s great in the batter’s box and good enough in the field to play every day, at least against right handed pitchers. Then Pinder can play second base against left-handed pitchers. And if neither of these guys are good enough, they will go get a second baseman. They are not going to rely on Kemp and Machin, that’s for sure.
Put him in the pen. Man on 1st with one out, bring him in. Gets a lot of soft contact
That’s not a half bad idea brother. I could see him turn into a Brandon Kintzler type reliever.
Granted it’s been a series of small sample sizes, but Blackburn’s ERA has gone up 4 years in a row, culminating in a 27.00 ERA in 2020. I hope for his sake that the trend doesn’t continue this year.
That’s because he a terrible gascan. AAAA filler.