The Athletics announced a series of moves, including the news that outfielder Ramon Laureano has been designated for assignment. As for two other players recently DFA’ed by Oakland, catcher Manny Pina was released and utilityman Tyler Wade was outrighted to Triple-A. The moves create roster space for some injured list activations, as Esteury Ruiz is back from the 10-day IL and Dany Jimenez was activated from the 60-day IL. Kevin Smith was also reinstated from the 10-day IL and optioned to Triple-A, while the A’s also optioned right-hander Tayler Scott to Triple-A.
Laureano has been on the injured list twice this season, missing about six total weeks due to a groin strain and a fractured hand suffered while sliding into a base. This has continued a pattern of injuries that have plagued Laureano over the last few years, to say nothing of the 80-game PED suspension that cost him portions of the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Since returning to action in 2022, Laureano has hit only .212/.285/.371 over 629 plate appearances.
It stands to reason that if it wasn’t for the health concerns and the lack of production, Laureano would have joined the many other notables traded during Oakland’s fire sale. Laureano is still controlled through the 2025 season, making him an interesting possibility for a team looking for outfield help — he could draw a waiver claim from a contender looking to add depth, or a non-contender just looking to add a controllable asset. The fact that the A’s didn’t move him before the deadline for at least a token return might speak to a general lack of trade interest, or an interested team might not have wanted to give anything up in a deal, betting that Laureano might come available on the DFA wire.
Ruiz missed about a month due to a right shoulder subluxation, so a month-long absence ended up being a welcome scenario given the potential seriousness of such a shoulder problem. He’ll return to his customary spot in center field and continue a rookie season that has seen Ruiz hit .257/.310/.329 over 369 PA. Even despite missing a month, Ruiz is still the AL leader in stolen bases with 43, and Ronald Acuna Jr. (51) is the only player in baseball with more swipes than the speedy Ruiz.
Jimenez hasn’t pitched since April 16 due to a right shoulder strain, so he has only 6 2/3 innings (and a 5.40 ERA) on his ledger for the 2023 campaign. Shoulder problems also interrupted Jimenez’s rookie season, though he managed a 3.41 ERA over 34 1/3 innings for the Athletics last year and entered the spring as a contender for the closer role. While the A’s probably won’t immediately insert Jimenez into the highest of high-leverage situations, there’s plenty of time left in the season for Jimenez to post some good results and get himself into the rebuilding team’s plans for 2024.
This is the third time Wade has been DFA’ed, cleared waivers, and outrighted off of the Athletics’ 40-man roster. He again has the right to reject the outright assignment and become a free agent, though it stands to reason that he might again opt to remain with the A’s and await another opportunity.
Pina’s first season with the A’s has seen him play in only four games, as he has again battled wrist injuries for the second consecutive year. All told, Pina has suited up in only nine MLB games since the start of the 2022 season, with these injuries coming on the heels of a six-year as a part-time catcher with the Brewers. The Athletics acquired Pina last winter from the Braves as part of the Sean Murphy deal, and the A’s are still responsible for the roughly $1.5MM remaining on Pina’s contract for 2023. If Pina does sign elsewhere, his new team will only owe him a prorated MLB minimum salary for any time he spends on an active roster, with that salary subtracted from the Athletics’ $1.5MM tab.
Should’ve traded him when they had the chance smh, low key want philly to take a chance on him, as a pitcher because holy hell Yunior Marte is TRASH
LOL, still? We have OF depth for days. Laureano can’t hit.
Put him on the mound then, I’ve seen that cannon. HAS to be better the covey and Marte
Not a bad idea…
Covey honestly has b3en fine in 1 inning stints lately, and I’d say Marte (last night notwithstanding) has been as well. I would welcome an upgrade, sure, but those two are hardly the real issues this team is facing.
They both stink when it counts. I have no confidence in either in a big spot.
and you would trust an outfielder?
@darkside- he said as a pitcher, so the OF depth would not matter in this crazy scenario lol
He needs a change of scenery from that garbage dump of a team and city he will hit
Performance dipped after he was busted for PEDs. Hitting away from what you describe as a garbage dump City .190.
Can’t believe y’all gave us Erik Miller for him lmaoo
6.7 BB/9 Erik Miller?
He hasn’t hit lately, but he raked in the past, if I was a Phillies fan I’d want him. You guys have a good hitting coach right? Kevin long seems to get guys to figure stuff out. He has also put up 1.2 war despite being a below average hitter. Getting out of Oakland and in a winning environment would help too. I’d take him on the braves for sure.
The Phillies have Marsh, Castellanos, and Schwarber playing almost every day between the three OF spots and DH. Johan Rojas has been a revelation, and while he hasn’t ben spectacular, Jake Cave has been serviceable as a hitter and has played a great LF. Add in the fact that the team expects Pache back soon and the great OF play at AAA, there are like 9 guys I have faith in over Laureano that are healthy right now. Now if he played INF that would be a different story, but we have plenty of OF. Maybe in the off-season they might take a look to see what Long can do, but right now the team has no need for more projects. Long has his hands full with Trea right now.
Good point, darkside I know the outfield is a position of strength for you guys but still I think I’d personally prefer him over Jake Cave. As far as Trea Turner goes I have belief in him doing a Castellanosish rebound in year 2 for the Phillies. Maybe the pressure of being in Philadelphia on a huge deal is causing him some first year jitters. Even though y’all are rivals I still wish for a rebound for him. He seems like a good enough dude!
@statman That is so f’ing funny. Like _BOTH_ of ’em, cause you know the A’s don’t have a lot of fans, and my 3rd grade teacher said it was funny
You should put up a counter detailing the number of times you’re used the same, tired, joke. Of course, I’m old, and distinctly remember Connie Mack saying ‘Drat! Harrumph!’ the first time he heard it.
Seriously, knave, you need new writers
The A’s held onto Ramon too long, just like they did with Frankie Montas. There were points in his recent career where he actually had some value and very well may still.
Sometimes the Athletics front office thinks they’re playing 4D chess and then get burned. Like when they traded Donaldson to the Blue Jays, nothing of value came back.
Basically ever since Moneyball came out every GM has made sure not to be the guy gettin fleeced on the other end of the line…
And every trade they make with the Braves, never get anything back. They got a near league average catcher and a center fielder who can barely hit, incredible.
They wanted Laureano to be part of the next core that never coalesced I think.
He’s only 29 and would’ve been under contract 2 more seasons. I’m assuming they didn’t know he’d get popped for PEDS and be no good afterwards. Tough break.
His defense, as well, made then hope he’d turn the corner…
Based on what was known at the time, the decision to hold Laureano was understandable. Essentially, he finished and started the 2021 and 2022 seasons on a PED suspension. His value was non-existent and the team made a bet that he could rebuild his value clean. Now we have our answer.
Oakland started their rebuild with Semien’s departure in the 2021 off-season. Personally, I consider Laureano to be a case of misfortune, as opposed to the poor asset management First has displayed with Olson, Chapman, Murphy and anyone else they let walk.
Forst, excuse me.
Also, I don’t mean to suggest Olson, Chapman and Murphy we’re free agents, but rather that they fall into a large group of veterans Forst let go of for nowhere near fair value
They were reticient to field a stars and scrubs roster with Olson Chapman and 50 feet of crap.
What are you talking about the A’s traded Montas to the Yankees for Medina, seers, and Waldichuk; all who are on the 26 man roster. Montas was ineffective in New York and hasn’t pitched for the Yankees this entire season.
Not really. They were still winning when Laureano was busted for PEDs. That is when all of his value tanked. Trading him when they were still a winning club would have just not looked good to the fans. Although since they are moving I guess they really don’t care what things look like to the fans, so who knows.
I mean they have definitely done that in the past eg: peak cespedes
Yeah sears is at least a 20 WAR
How bad a player are you to get DFA by the a’s
I mean he’s worth 1.2 bwar this year which is way better than 90% of their team
I suspect they’re just trying to save a couple hundred thousand dollars if another team signs them. Manfred and the A’s aren’t really about running a ballclub or even attempting to hide the revenue sharing embezzlement.
“Revenue sharing embezzlement”.. You clearly don’t know what “embezzlement” means. Operating within the framework of a collectively bargained CBA, is not “embezzlement”.
They wanted to give his atbats to younger guys. They are also giving him a chance to latch on to another team…
How highly paid of a player are you to get DFA by the A’s. $3.55 Million. Someone will claim him.
Well,Philly has been collecting CF’s all year….what can one more hurt…
Hes not a CF at this point. A great defensive corner outfielder with no pop.
No pop? His mom would differ…
He gets no respect let me tell you.
Texas could use a guy like him. Bref says he is above average this year due to defense. Idk why they picked him over dozens of others.
They don’t like Pina coladas, or getting caught in the rain.
Expect Jays, Marlins to be interested
@dano62
Was thinking the same thing.
Tigers should take a look. No worse than some they’ve rotated through their outfield this year.
Lucky for Jimenez, he won’t be needed as a closer because they’re never ahead in the 9th
That’s some brutally honest truth. They really want to get to 120 losses.
“… if it wasn’t for the health concerns and the lack of production”
I could have been a major leaguer.
Only 12 shy of a dozen…
What would be interesting is if Pina exercises his player option for next year without signing elsewhere.
Would prefer Laureano to Luplow on the Twins.
A team looking for a RH outfield bat to strictly face lefties can take a shot with Laureano. That would be the Blue Jays.
@its_happening
A 123wRC+ Against LHP would lend itself to a platoon situation
Farhan, please DFA Pollack and snag Laureano! At worst he’s a plus outfielder at all 3 spots and at best, lightning in a bottle.
Reading the comments it’s obvious some do not understand what DFA means.
Driving Full of Alcohol?
Don’t Forget the Alamo?
Doggy Foot Action.
He’d be a great pickup for the Royals.
Two of the most terrible teams to ever play the sport in the same year, wouldn’t be great for his self esteem.
I feel like Laureano has Mets written all over him
This is the reason you don’t binge drink in Queens.
It was widely reported that the Oakland A’s received many inquiries about Seth Brown before the trade deadline. No deal was made because the A’s asking price for brown was too high. For a guy like Brown it should’ve been no reasonable offer refused.
I have to wonder if this is just the owners way of saving himself more money. Is Laureano really the worst hitter on the Athletics?
It is acceptable to have a big mouth in the clubhouse when you can hit like Reggie, Jackson in October. It is not acceptable to have a big mouth in the clubhouse and play like Daric Barton.
How dare you impugn Daric Barton. His dad body was destined for greatness.
The puff pieces that the San Francisco chronicle used to publish about Daric Barton were hilarious! “ Daric Barton struck out three times today and made a fatal error. The cost of the A’s game in the eighth inning, but he says he has turned a corner and looks forward to carrying the team on his broad shoulders down the homestretch toward the playoffs.”
It is… I think we can assume that Manfred is not threatening them about pocketing revenue sharing funds anymore.
With marsh probably hurt after tonight, I’d give him a shot or see what Mancini or Christian arroyo can do. Could also see Segura coming back and bring a bench guy if they need to put Sosa in left. Sorry I’m not a big Jake Cave fan as a full time player.
Obvious claim for the Tigers. Their OF outside of Greene stinks.. and he’s an asset if he gets his crap together.
Too smart a move though, they’d have to DFA Short, Baddoo or Maton.. who are all shades of replaceable with no value.
It’s simple, the guy popped a test and was never anything close to the fraud he was for that short run. As much fun as he was to watch we all know it was all synthetic, sad
Probably not as good, but currently playing for a team with no order protection (stripped for parts, legendarily bad offense) and in a ballpark with huge amounts of foul ground. If he could raise that OPS a little his arm/platoon value would make him a valuable bench player with an extra year of club control.
2019 double juiced. PED and juiced ball
Solid asset to have in a close, pitching dominant playoff series. Good at keeping runners from taking an extra base and a reasonable situational pinch hitter.
By the time the new stadium opens and they’re attempting to be competitive Allen won’t have many years of control left (and if he succeeds arbitration will bump the salary). They’re looking to intentionally tank and slash salary for profits at the moment and want players that will develop into a controllable core about 4 years down the line.
I would love to see the Cubs make a move here our outfield is in need of some help
I think the OF is the least of the worries with Bellinger, Happ, and Tauchman starting and Suzuki and Morel back ups.
Even with the Candelario trade the corner IF remains the hole, imo, since Wisdom isn’t producing.
And starting pitching.
Athletics holding onto a scrub too long after they can fool Brian Cashman into taking them should be a fireable offense tbqh
Only person fooling Brian Cashman is himself, get over it..
How much do they pay interns to astroturf for the Yankees front office on MLBTR?
I remember Laureano hitting well against the Astros the last few years. Was that all PED related, or can he hit when clean?
Only Ersie left as a former Brewer on Your team. Might look you guys up to see if anyone still watches live BB in Oakland!