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Lucas Erceg “Drawing Significant Interest”

By Tim Dierkes | July 29, 2024 at 2:46pm CDT

Hard-throwing Athletics righty reliever Lucas Erceg is “drawing significant interest,” according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.  Erceg, 29, is controllable for five seasons beyond this one.

Erceg, a second round pick by the Brewers back in 2016, had served as a two-way player in college but didn’t get serious about pitching until 2021.  This year, his second for the A’s, Erceg has cut his formerly worrisome walk rate down to 8.3%.  That’s paired with a healthy 26.3 K% and a 98.8 average fastball velocity that ranks 13th in MLB.  Erceg also has a strong 50.5% groundball rate and excellent barrel and hard-hit rates, so the ingredients are in place for an ERA lower than his current 3.68 mark.

Erceg spent a couple weeks on the IL for forearm tightness earlier this season.  He’s shown no ill effects with his fastball velocity, but did struggle for a couple of weeks upon his return.  Erceg’s past three outings have been scoreless, however, including a save Friday in Los Angeles.

Erceg’s bullpen-mate Mason Miller, one of the few relievers in baseball who throws harder, fractured his left pinkie a few days ago.  That moves Erceg up in the pecking order for A’s manager Mark Kotsay, along with fellow trade candidate Scott Alexander.  According to Rosenthal, the A’s have also “exchanged names” with teams on Alexander, a veteran lefty who bears little resemblance to Erceg as a pitcher.

Michael Kopech, who sits just above Erceg on the velocity rankings, landed with the Dodgers in a three-team deal Monday afternoon.  ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel connected the Phillies to both relievers earlier today, though he was unsure how the Phillies’ acquisition of Carlos Estevez affects their interest. Erceg, who will not be arbitration-eligible 2026 at the earliest, could be of particular appeal to teams with competitive balance tax concerns.

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Oakland Athletics Philadelphia Phillies Lucas Erceg Scott Alexander

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View Comments (34)
Post a Comment

34 Comments

  1. Doron

    1 year ago

    As a Yankee’s fan who has seen the Yankees being burnt on A’s Pitchers, I hope the Yankees are not tempted by the flamethrower.

    1
    Reply
    • dasit

      1 year ago

      cost of relievers this deadline is through the roof don’t see the yankees coughing up what it would take

      Reply
  2. sad tormented neglected mariners fan

    1 year ago

    Damn under control until he’s 34

    Can anyone think of an older first time free agent?

    2
    Reply
    • Doron

      1 year ago

      Satchel Paige? Yuk Yuk!!!

      1
      Reply
      • cooperhill

        1 year ago

        Nyuk!

        Reply
    • Canuckleball

      1 year ago

      Whit Merrifield became a free agent for the first time this past offseason at the age of 34 (81 days shy of being 35)

      1
      Reply
    • GangGreen23

      1 year ago

      He’s older because he was Drafted as a 3rd Baseman and spent a lot of years as a Hitter before converting into a Pitcher.

      Kind of like Sean Doolittle a decade ago.

      1
      Reply
  3. User 4204968895

    1 year ago

    Dear Craig Breslow:

    Just a tip: it’s OK to look outside the dumpster for arms too. Just saying…

    -Big Ragu

    2
    Reply
    • So many crybaby Mets fans

      1 year ago

      Do you mean Chaim Breslow?

      Reply
  4. Primitive Screwhead

    1 year ago

    Will never stop thinking that his last name is being written backwards.

    Reply
  5. Bart Harley Jarvis

    1 year ago

    DD will do his magic, and grab Erceg for next to nothing.

    Reply
  6. Citizen1

    1 year ago

    Some contending teams announcers have declined this transaction.

    2
    Reply
  7. oaklandfan22

    1 year ago

    Please don’t trade him for nothing. Dudes got legit stuff. Miller and Erceg at the back end is lethal.

    3
    Reply
    • The cookie-man

      1 year ago

      Please don’t trade him period.

      1
      Reply
  8. User 3222006999

    1 year ago

    I’m not trying to cast aspersions on anybody but can somebody explain to me how a RH Pitcher can go on the IL with a fractured left pinkie? I mean it goes inside the glove and really isn’t all that important in the whole scheme of things in baseball. One of those things that makes you go Hmmmmmm………

    Reply
    • Tim Dierkes

      1 year ago

      From Mark Kotsay:

      “”Mason came in the training room and was going through his recovery. He was reminded that he had a postgame lift to get in. Out of a little frustration, he just kind of pounded his fist down on a padded training table out of emotion.

      “We’ve all been there, done that. Unfortunately, it resulted in a fracture in his non-pitching hand in his left hand where his pinkie area is.””

      espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40641873/athletics-pitcher…

      Reply
      • dasit

        1 year ago

        postgame lifts? never even heard of that. brutal

        Reply
        • Jbigz12

          1 year ago

          Post game lift for a reliever…. A’s will A.

          Reply
      • Motor City Beach Bum

        1 year ago

        Crazy glue fixes everything!

        Reply
    • The cookie-man

      1 year ago

      It protects him from being on TR. lol

      2
      Reply
  9. dasit

    1 year ago

    if you look at his name in a mirror it spells murder

    2
    Reply
  10. GangGreen23

    1 year ago

    5 years of Control at basically a Minimum Wage salary.

    Aren’t those the type of players the A’s need to keep and not trade away?

    2
    Reply
    • riseagainst510

      1 year ago

      prospects are even cheaper

      Reply
    • fjmendez

      1 year ago

      Yeah thats what people don’t understand lol A’s like to soak up cheap years from players.

      Reply
  11. Raysasineppswasplanted

    1 year ago

    Get this man and Skubie Doo or Jack Flaherty Brian, el pliso man!!!

    Reply
  12. The Big Yo

    1 year ago

    Erceg, Alexander, Adams relievers. Rooker and Andujar, should all be traded right now. Get the A’s ready for Vegas!!!! They would bring a good haul if the A’s traded well

    Reply
    • oaklandfan22

      1 year ago

      Problem is the A’s never trade well cause their FO is incompetent

      Reply
    • The cookie-man

      1 year ago

      Don’t need to, I think this lineup/team is coming into their own!

      1
      Reply
      • oaklandfan22

        1 year ago

        Facts

        Reply
      • Asfan0780

        1 year ago

        Their rotation still is a bunch of imcomsistent back rotation types. Waldichuk and Medina had tj surgery. Salinas had shoulder surgery. I dont have confidence in them making good trades but if plan to contend anytime soon they need to improve the rotation

        Reply
        • fjmendez

          1 year ago

          They can find someone in free agency in the off-season. Obviously not a big free agent, but maybe second tier pitching.

          Reply
    • fjmendez

      1 year ago

      No real pressure to trade anyone. They have a promising core here.

      Reply
  13. debubba

    1 year ago

    Guards could use another bullpen arm. He may cost too much, but bullpens win playoff games.

    Reply
  14. l9ydodger

    1 year ago

    Would love to see Friedman overwhelm the A’s with an offer for Erceg & Rooker. With today’s earlier trade for Edman & Kopech, this would solidify the bullpen, outfield & even the infield.
    Only piece missing is a starting pitcher but maybe not that critical.

    Reply

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