The A’s are acquiring right-hander Brent Honeywell from the Rays, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN (Twitter link). Tampa Bay will receive cash in return, reports Shayna Rubin of the San Jose Mercury News (on Twitter).
It’s a notable low-cost pickup for the A’s. Honeywell, 26, was considered one of the game’s most promising pitching prospects on his way up the minor league ladder. He appeared on Baseball America’s top 100 list entering a staggering five consecutive seasons from 2016-20. That speaks both to Honeywell’s talent and the repeated injury troubles that have kept him from making a major league impact to this point.
For all his acclaim from evaluators, Honeywell’s big league resume consists of just 4 1/3 innings across three outings this past season. He spent the bulk of the season working in a swing role with Triple-A Durham, tossing 81 2/3 innings of 3.97 ERA ball but only fanning 20% of opponents. That’s a far cry from the near-30% strikeout percentages he’d run for a good chunk of his early minor league career.
Recent struggles notwithstanding, there’s little harm for Oakland in taking a flier on Honeywell. The A’s have one of the league’s thinner farm systems, giving them space on the 40-man roster. With the Rays seemingly in a perennial state of roster crunch, there was an opportunity for Oakland to squeeze an affordable, big league ready starter with pedigree out of a deeper organization.
Honeywell is out of minor league option years, so he’s a good bet to break camp with the A’s in 2022. Otherwise, Oakland would have to designate him for assignment and make him available to other clubs themselves.
moeyball to moneyball trade!
*moneyball to moneyball
Could prove interesting.. A’s in salary cutting mode. Figuring Rays with 40 man issues and Honeywell never has been healthy, but what if he does finally manage to? Perfect Beane move and probably cost nearly nothing a guess.
Exactly my thought
Honeyball?
Honeywell for Puk just cause it would be funny if it happened
everything theses teams touch turns to gold so im betting everyone in this trade is going to the HOF
The Rays had their hands all over Honeywell and that didn’t help him.
He was injured. The dude has stuff, but was injured for three years. Not much a team can do about that.
Got to love the kids heart but his screwball made him unhittable before he got injured. I didn’t see him throw it when he came back. Tampa gave appearances to Shawn Armstrong and similar guys instead of Honey last year
interesting…
Oakland is underrated when it comes to acquiring pitching.
“A’s To Acquire Brent Honeywell From Rays”
This reminds me of the line George Carlin used as the Hippie-Dippy sports anchor:
“We have a partial score…..
Detroit 3”.
Good one!
I miss Carlin.
I would LOVE to hear his take on contemporary politics.
It would be epic.
I had a keg party when Carlin passed away in his memory. What a guy.
The Rays doing Rays things.
The A’s doing A’s things.
that’s what I thought too, lol — really characteristic of both organizations
Been going on a while……
Note how the Indians made numerous trades with the Rays, and the recent trades between the Rays and Brewers.
These teams use similar methodologies and understand what benefits the other. They’re not trying to “win” the trade, they’re trying to get better and realize they have someone with skills the other team can use that they have a surplus of.
Many players have played for all teams. The Pirates used to be in the loop as well – BC. (Luplow from Pittsburgh to Cleveland to Tampa Bay, etc.).
*Guardians
“Note how the Indians made numerous trades with the Rays……”
When those trades I was referring to were made, their nickname was the “Indians”.
*
I’m calling them Indians, forget Guardians. Another way we ruin history.
“Ruin history”? Do tell.
Yeah but what’s coming back to them?
The report says for cash considerations.
For Olson or Chapman???
Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a while
Wow, this is equally Rays as it is A’s. Rays extracting value in the player while they can, while the A’s are taking a chance on a potential impact arm with injury/durability concerns. Like it.
Rays are not extracting value when they can, they are dumping him for pennies to clear a roster spot. Not saying it’s a bad move but it’s not some genius move to sell a player to another team haha
… and how is getting cash for him, instead of placing him on release waivers, not extracting value for him while they can?
while that is happening, it is it not as much a motivation of the rays FO as clearing that roster spot. i guarantee they value that spot on the 40-man over the cash theyre getting from the as in return.
Puk and Honeywell can be injury rehab roommates in minors. I bet both end up being youth baseball coaches before pitching any sort of extended period in majors. Mainly due to health
I absolutely love Brent Honeywell… but I’m scared he’s in our division now…
We’re all scared of you
I knew I’d get him some day . Now I just don’t know what I have . Exciting days .
When healthy Honeywell has shown flashes of brilliance. Problem is he’s not been healthy very often so far. Either way OAK got him for just cash, so the risk couldn’t be lower.
Cash in return? Sounds like they traded the manager.
If he could ever get that elbow healthy again and throw the screwball
Shrewd move by A’s. Worth a shot and low cost.
Man, if Christian Bale and George Harrison had a kid……
Seems like a pretty light return?
Neither can win a World Series for being such geniuses
Winning the World Series requires teams to win 3 coin flip series. Any team that makes the playoffs and both of those teams have several times could have easily won. New fans such as yourself don’t understand these simple undeniable and undebatable concepts.
Good move!
Wow!! For just cash ?? I feel like Ive been hearing this guy’s name for years as a top prospect to look out for as he could be a Front of rotation starter. And the rays just gave him up for nothing ? Considering all the uncertainty in Oakland, this is a nice get.
he’s had 4 arm surgeries
Put him in the bullpen.
Watch the A’s still finish better than the Rangers and Halos
Was really excited to see this guy play when he first broke in the minors. Had a really effective screwball which is not so common. Hope he brings that pitch with him to the A’s.
Great move by the A’s. Surprised they were able to get him for just cash
I’m a relatively new mlb super fan considering I’m only 19.
But I remember this guy as the first prospect I was excited to watch. That means he was also the first bust I watched turn into a bust. Sadness.
Not a bust yet just hasn’t had the opportunity to show his potential
How werent the Pirates in on this?
Al Avila is a flipping.idiot.
Been say get this guy a since he first was injured.
Al Avila is an idiot.