Athletics Sign Austin Pruitt To Minors Deal

The A’s have announced the signing of right-hander Austin Pruitt to a minor league deal.  Pruitt will receive an invitation to Oakland’s Major League spring camp.

Pruitt was twice outrighted off the Marlins’ 40-man roster last season, thus giving him the right to test free agency following the season.  Miami acquired Pruitt at the trade deadline, landing the righty and outfielder Bryan De La Cruz in exchange for sending Yimi Garcia to the Astros.

The 32-year-old will now head back to the AL West in search of a new opportunity in Oakland, and get his career back on track after elbow problems derailed Pruitt for much of the last two seasons.  He didn’t pitch at all in 2020 due to what ended up being a hairline fracture in his throwing elbow, and the subsequent surgery kept him from returning to the mound until June 2021 with the Astros’ A-ball affiliate.  Overall, Pruitt tossed 19 2/3 innings of minor league ball and 7 1/3 innings in the Show.

Prior to his injury, durability was one of Pruitt’s calling cards as a swingman and long reliever with the Rays from 2017-19.  While Pruitt had a modest 4.87 ERA over his 199 2/3 innings in Tampa Bay, his ability to adjust between many pitching roles made him a valuable member of the versatile Rays staff.  If healthy and back in his old form, Pruitt could be tabbed for swingman duty with the A’s, given how Oakland’s bullpen is lacking in experience.  Conceivably, Pruitt might even get some looks in the rotation, especially if the Athletics continue to trade current members of their starting staff.