The A’s announced they’ve claimed corner outfielder Conner Capel off waivers from the Cardinals, designating fellow outfielder Luis Barrera for assignment. Oakland also recalled reliever Domingo Tapia from Triple-A Las Vegas, optioning Zach Logue in a corresponding move.
Capel is joining the third organization of his career. Originally an Indians draftee, he was dealt to the Cardinals as a prospect in the deal that sent Oscar Mercado to Cleveland. The left-handed hitter has spent most of the past two seasons at Triple-A Memphis, generally performing at an above-average level. He’s hit .267/.355/.452 through a bit more than 800 plate appearances there, walking at a robust 11.5% clip while only striking out in 18% of his trips. Capel has also connected on 26 home runs, 40 doubles and seven triples, demonstrating a well-rounded offensive skillset.
That earned the 25-year-old his first MLB call in late June, but Capel didn’t receive much of a look at Busch Stadium. He got into nine games and only hit 19 times, collecting three hits (including his first round-tripper). The Cards designated Capel for assignment earlier this week upon calling up top prospect Alec Burleson.
As the team with the second-worst record in the majors, the A’s had the league’s #2 waiver priority. They’ll leverage that to add an outfielder with a solid upper minors track record. Capel is only in his first of three minor league option years, so the A’s can bounce him between Oakland and Las Vegas for the next couple seasons if he holds his spot on the 40-man roster.
Barrera, himself a left-handed outfielder, has gotten brief big league looks in each of the past two years. He’s gotten into 38 games, hitting .235/.290/.329 over 93 trips to the plate. Barrera has played most of the season with the Aviators, compiling a .271/.331/.451 line through 294 plate appearances. That’s actually below-average production in one of the sport’s most hitter-friendly environments, but Barrera is an elite runner who’s capable manning all three outfield positions.
The A’s have already taken Barrera off the 40-man roster once this year, outrighting him in April before re-selecting his contract the next month. They’ll place him on waivers again in the next few days. If he clears outright waivers again, he’ll have the right to refuse the assignment in favor of minor league free agency this time.
I just hope Luis Barrera goes unclaimed so he can stay. He just needs an steady chance to play.
Reallllly wish the A’s would have given Barrera the shot they’re giving Machin (who is very bad at everything and AAAA).
My girlfriend is tired of hearing me talk about Machin. He’s not a good fielder, he’s not a good hitter, is he good at telling jokes or something? Does he have a wonderful singling voice? I like Berrera and agree he should been given the opportunity Skye Bolt was given.
I think theres a case that Bolt has gotten a bit better over the season and is solid defensively, but yeah I was expecting more of a “Either give us a .700+ OPS, or back to AAA you go” type attitude this year, but instead they chose to give extra long looks to Bolt, Bride, Nuese and Machin, who are all terrible, and Allen, who at least has the glove that’s gotta be in the lineup + his bat looks promising, with lots of hard hit balls and basically getting owned by wily veteran pitchers who feast on rookies like him. I can see him getting very good at the plate. Agreed Gelof gotta come up, along with a whole bunch of other REAL prospects, not these weird scrubby Skye Bolt non-prospect types the A’s love to waste PAs on.
My girlfriend is tired of hearing me talk about Machin. He’s not a good fielder, he’s not a good hitter, is he good at telling jokes or something? Does he have a wonderful singling voice? I like Berrera and agree he should been given the opportunity Skye Bolt was given.
If you need a third baseman then bring up Gelof.
You can tell Beane is no longer doing very much for the A’s because of how many bad deals they done the last 2 years. Beane is only concerned with soccer now. . Chapman trade may be worse than the Donaldson trade. Frost is a terrible GM should be fired but the A’s are too cheap to do it.
Chapman isnt worth more than that package though? It’s 2 years of a flawed hitter, its not that big a deal if that trade bottoms out. The Oly trade has to be a W though, as Olson is a perennial top 5 first baseman.
Gunnar Hoglund going to be dominating everyone in 2024, I wouldn’t call that trade a bust yet, that’s silly. All these players can and likely will play better next year and improve.
You’re blaming the front office, but ownership is dictating the payroll restrictions they have to work within.
Prediction: Barrera goes to the Dodgers, immediately looks like a different hitter and throws up a 3+ WAR season.
AsFaninUK My girlfriend is tired of hearing me talk about Machin. He’s not a good fielder, he’s not a good hitter, is he good at telling jokes or something? Does he have a wonderful singling voice? I like Berrera and agree he should been given the opportunity Skye Bolt was given.
Tried to reply to your comment but was unable to.