A’s Could Pursue Relievers With Closing Experience

The A’s go into the offseason prioritizing starting pitching and help at one or both of second and third base. They might also be in the market for a late-game reliever. Martín Gallegos of MLB.com writes that the A’s are likely to target a pitcher who has closing experience.

Manager Mark Kotsay used a committee approach in the ninth inning after the A’s traded Mason Miller at the deadline. Hogan Harris, Sean Newcomb, Michael Kelly and Tyler Ferguson each picked up at least one save. Osvaldo Bido got one as well, but that was of the ’three innings to finish a blowout’ variety.

The patchwork relief group pitched well. Only the Guardians had a lower bullpen ERA than the A’s 2.99 mark over the final two months. They surrendered only three leads, tied with Miller’s new team in San Diego for the fewest in MLB. It’s nevertheless understandable that the front office would prefer a more proven arm at the back end.

The quartet of Harris, Kelly, Newcomb and Ferguson had a combined four career saves before August. Newcomb, who had two of them, is headed to free agency. The A’s don’t have many relievers with significant big league experience of any kind. They won’t have a single reliever with even two years of MLB service time once Newcomb, José Leclerc and Scott McGough hit free agency.

The A’s tried to add a proven back-end arm last offseason, signing Leclerc to a one-year deal with a $10MM salary. He was supposed to be the team’s top setup man in front of Miller. Leclerc made 10 appearances before suffering a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery. He’s highly unlikely to be back. It stands to reason they’ll try to retain Newcomb, who pitched to a 1.75 ERA in 51 1/3 innings after being acquired from the Red Sox. He’s got a shot at a two-year contract after that strong showing but won’t command much on an annual basis. The A’s aren’t going to sign Newcomb as a closer, though, so there should be room for a bigger move in the ninth.

There are no shortage of free agent relievers who have closing experience. The A’s aren’t signing Edwin Díaz, of course. It’s highly unlikely they’ll win the bidding for Robert Suarez either. Any of Kyle Finnegan, Raisel Iglesias, Emilio Pagán, Kenley Jansen or Ryan Helsley should be within the price range. There’s a chance Devin Williams settles for a pillow contract. Each of Seranthony Domínguez, Gregory Soto, Kirby Yates, Taylor Rogers, Paul Sewald and Michael Kopech have past closing experience as well. No one from the latter group seems likely to sign as a closer this offseason, however.

The A’s could have issues selling some of those pitchers on signing with a fringe contender that plays its home games in a hitter-friendly minor league stadium. They’d have no such need if they trade for a closer, so players like Pete Fairbanks, JoJo Romero and Dennis Santana could be targets on that front.