April 20: The A’s have formally announced Tom’s DFA. The move clears roster space for Stephen Piscotty to be reinstated from the paternity list. Oakland also announced that lefty Reymin Guduan has been reinstated from the 10-day IL and will serve as the 27th man for today’s doubleheader against the Twins.
April 19: The Athletics have designated outfielder Ka’ai Tom for assignment, per the MLB transactions page (h/t: Martin Gallegos of MLB.com). Tom was a Rule 5 pick from Cleveland, and he’ll be offered back to the Indians if he clears waivers.
The 26-year-old Tom earned a roster spot in Oakland thanks to a strong spring, during which he slashed .310/.412/.552 with four extra-base hits (two doubles, a home run and a triple) in 34 plate appearances. But Tom was unable to carry that performance into the regular season, as he collected just one hit (a single) and six strikeouts in 16 PA before the A’s designated him.
Tom hasn’t produced in the majors yet, but he has done well in the minors since the Indians used a fifth-round pick on him in 2015. During the most recent minors season in 2019, Tom put together a .290/.380/.532 line with 23 homers in 554 plate trips between the Double-A and Triple-A levels.
Slight difference, but I thought he has to be put on waivers first and then offered back to the Indians if he clears. I’m not sure if they changed the rule or if I just had it backward though.
That’s correct, Michael. I wrote it backward. Thanks for catching that.
Could Cleveland put a claim on him or do they have to wait? (Don’t think they will but it’s not like they are strong in the OF).
Cleveland could put a claim in. If they win their claim, he’d still have to stay on the roster all year, of get run through waivers.
It’s ok Connor we all make
Mistakes sometimes
I never make mistakes.
The only time I made a mistake is when I thought I made a mistake, and I was wrong.
that’s what i thought as well. like a team could claim him, but would be bound to the same rule 5 rules of having to carry him on their major league roster. maybe i’m wrong too lol
Too bad we can’t get back Dustin Fowler or Skye Bolt, whom we Cut to make room for this kid.
i mean neither of them are exactly lighting the world in fire at the moment either.
Exactly, as an A’s fan I’m not missing any of these 3 terrible players, haha
Can we stop calling 27 year olds “kid” too? Save that for the under 23s…
Why
My thoughht is that Mike Fiers is ready to be activated.. And Seth Brown is getting opportunities in the lineup. Next big move is when Pinder is ready who goes from the BP?
Piscotty is coming back from paternity leave and they want to keep Brown up. If he’s still up, I’d imagine Machin gets sent down when Pinder returns.
I wonder how long the A’s will let Elvis Andrus be the worst hitter in MLB for? He’s been absolutely dreadful so far, his defense isn’t making up for this terrible hitting. A’s need to trade for Trevor Story as soon as they can.
they don’t have the prospect capital to get a guy like Story. it would have to start with Puk/Jeffries
Hardly. Not only are the Rockies looking at the very realistic likelihood that they’ll get nothing more than a draft pick for him, but their trading history of guys like Tulo and Arenado (both carrying years of control) is unimpressive. Truly, if the A’s tossed a Cody Thomas, a prospect arm like Romero, Howard or Peluse plus a lottery ticket at the Rockies, I would think Colorado would even be willing to split the remaining salary, assuming they’re willing to take more public abuse…which they may not be. That said, that kind of package exceeds the likely return on an extra pick.
The Rockies will get more than a draft pick. The A’s won’t be the only team interested in Story.
I also think a package of Logan Davidson, James Kaprelian, Brian Howard and a couple guys outside of the top teams top 30 brings back Story – if you use the Arenado return as an example, they really aren’t trying to get maximum prospect value for him. At this point, getting out of the $15M or so that he’s left is probably more important to the Rockies.
That said, Story and Marquez for Puk and Fiers is a nice deal for both sides.
It’s not really “control” when you are paying a guy $30+ million
One might think so, but there’s evidence pointing against it too.
First, the Rockies need to find a contending team that can afford his salary (inclusive of the payroll tax limitations), needs a shortstop, and is willing to deal something tangible for him. Barring an injury that creates a need, how many teams fit that description? Even the Yankees who could use the defensive upgrade seem unwilling to exceed the payroll restrictions. The Brewers would need to stretch their payroll considerably. The A’s mentioned here are paupers. I actually think Story’s market is (again, barring an injury elsewhere) very small.
Second, Colorado’s leverage isn’t that great, given Javy Baez is also likely on the market, and should be cheaper in all respects.
Third, a contending team needs to “deal’ with the Rockies. Their mentality of clinging to their own (reference the recent article in the Athletic), old school method of evaluating players and understandable reluctance to face more grief if they trade Story for an underwhelming package makes it even more difficult..
I really think there’s a very good chance they don’t make a deal and end up with the draft pick.
He’s absolutely terrible and a AAAA player?
I hope the Tribe gets him back.
Why though? Gamel, Mercado, Zimmer, Johnson and Harold Ramirez are all way, way better than him.
Gamel is done. Zimmer & Mercado have been found wanting. Johnson is a platoon, Ramirez…meh. And the league needs more Hawaiians.
I followed Tom through his minor league journey with the Tribe. He was solid on every level, way more consistent than Zimmer and Mercado.
Gamel is pitiful. Ramirez is only around because he bats RH. Now Daniel Johnson I have hope for, if only Francona would give him a chance, especially after he out-performed every other outfielder in spring training. What many don’t realize is that he can also play CF, and has the best arm of any OF option.
Well, Tom certainly has not been solid at the MLB level. Gamel > Tom. Tom has been brutal and is AAAA to my eyes (I’ve watched all his games so far). Mercado and Zimmer are light years ahead of Tom. Trust me, he’s a AAAA type.
“not been solid at the MLB level” lol it’s been like a 16 PA sample
That’s true but he just doesn’t have it. Eye tests still mean things. Watch him play, he’s shown absolutely zero. If he at least had A quality at bat by now, he’d give me reason to think he is MLB-caliber, but the “AAAA” tag exists for a reason. I’m sorry your 27 year old lifetime minor leaguer isn’t good enough for MLB, maybe relax on defending non-prospects in future?
I agree with DJ. Not sure what else he has to prove. Dude has an 80 grade arm. Very athletic. But then again, Tito is loyal (to a fault) to the “grinders” and vets. That’s why DJ, Bradley and Jones are wasting away in the minors.
I guess you enjoy the free out Gamel gives you every AB?
Way better than him? By what metric?
His baseball reference page also lists him as a pitcher. I’m guessing he’s no longer trying to hack it as a two-way player(?)
Never mind…. looks like Oakland used him for an inning of relief, probably in a blow-out. So far in his MLB career, he’s been more successful on the mound than in the box.
When are teams going to learn that spring stats mean nothing? Here in Chicago, we had Joc Pederson, who absolutely killed it this spring – 7 HRs, .300+ etc. Since the season started, he is hitting .149 /.281/.255.
The worse part was that a genuine contender like Oakland was even bothering with attempting to carry not only Tom but Dany Jimenez too, two rule 5 draft players, that’s two spots you are volunteering away for a whole season to a AAAA player – that should be reserved for rebuilding teams only. Such a cheapskate, prospect-hounding move, really insulting to hardcore fans like myself. If you’re contending, you empty the farm in exchange for a deep playoff run, stop trying to have your cake and eat it too, it doesn’t work.
Maybe the A’s wouldn’t have started so poorly if they had a real MLB player for the 3 games Tom started? Frustrating!
lol
then how exactly do you evaluate guys in spring then? what if Tom was looking good in workouts as well?
If I were the Cardinals, I’d claim him and give him a few at bats. His minor league numbers beat some of the guys they’re running out there and I can’t imagine the team is that committed to Austin Dean, Scott Hurst or Lane Thomas (or even Justin Williams) really.
Liked him, but with his marginal prospect status the only way to make it was to hi’it right off the ba’at.
I see what you di’id there, their, they’re.
Elvis Andrus can reclaim back his number now.
Watch the tigers add him because of the early luck with Akil
you can activate a guy to be the 27th man? hmm.
26 teams, including Cleveland, passed on Tom or took a different player. The only other four are contenders without any outfield needs that Tom could fill.
The likelihood that Tom will return to Cleveland is high, because the Indians are the only team that doesn’t have to put him on the 40 man….unless the As and Tribe work out some kind of deal.
to be fair, that was December. usually Rule 5 guys arent popular on wiavers, but a team with a short term need may take a look.
to be fair, it was cold outside.
to be fair, there was this phantomy shadow that upon closer inspection, was this lonely little waif, shivering out in the alley, gazing longingly at the warmth of the fire inside. Who wants to be that guy that says no to an orphan on Xmas eve.
I saw this coming when they used him as a mop up pitcher , and during the end of spring pitchers had adjusted to him with high fastballs also low inside fastballs . It seemed like they gave him nothing to hit . Now he has to start all over again . In spring he started late , and busted out looking like Lenny Dykstra .
Mop up mop up man. I wanna be, a mopup man.
Tough luck being DFC’d. Guessing if you get Designated for Cleveland , it’s via Greyhound Bus.