Pete Kozma Elects Free Agency
7:58 pm: Kozma has officially elected free agency, per the team.
11:38 am: The A’s have outrighted veteran infielder Pete Kozma off their 40-man roster, according to MLB.com’s transactions log. Oakland has yet to formally announce the move, but Kozma will become a free agent now that he’s gone unclaimed on waivers.
Kozma, 33, was added to the Athletics’ 40-man roster for the season’s final weekend after Elvis Andrus suffered a season-ending leg fracture. He went 1-for-11 during that Oakland cameo — his first big league action since the 2018 season in Detroit. The rest of Kozma’s season was spent with Triple-A Las Vegas, where he batted .244/.307/.337 in 500 plate appearances and collected the 1000th hit of his minor league career.
Best known for his time with the Cardinals, Kozma was the primary for St. Louis in 2013 when the Cards fell to the Red Sox in the World Series. He hit just .217/.275/.273 in 448 plate appearances that season but graded out as a plus defensive infielder on a Cardinals staff that had the game’s second-highest ground-ball percentage.
That was the only season in which Kozma ever logged even semi-regular action. His 111 plate appearances with the 2015 Cardinals are the second-highest mark he’s reached in any of his eight big league seasons. In 825 plate appearances at the Major League level, Kozma is a .213/.276/.288 hitter. He’s a lifetime .235/.305/.340 hitter in the minors and could latch on as a depth option somewhere else in minor league free agency.
Billy Beane Withdraws Name From Consideration For Mets’ Job
4:50 pm: The Mets recently obtained permission from the A’s to speak with Beane to gauge his interest in the vacancy, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post (Twitter link). However, Beane informed Alderson at that point that he didn’t wish to pursue the position.
1:28 pm: Athletics executive vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane has with drawn his name from consideration for the Mets’ vacant president of baseball operations role, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports (Twitter link). MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweeted earlier in the day that the Mets were quite pessimistic about their chances of luring Beane, and the Mets have also reportedly been denied permission to interview Brewers president David Stearns for what would be a lateral move. It’s the second straight year the Brewers have denied the Mets permission to interview Stearns.
The Mets’ early reported wishlist of Theo Epstein, Beane and Stearns has, in largely unsurprising fashion, fizzled out rather quickly. Epstein spoke with owner Steve Cohen earlier this month, after which reports indicated the two agreed there was no fit in place. Epstein stepped down as Cubs president of baseball operations this time last year and said shortly thereafter that while he did envision an eventual “third chapter” to his baseball operations career, he planned to be away from the rigors of a full-time baseball ops job for more than a year.
Both Beane and Stearns, meanwhile, are under contract with their current organizations through at least the 2022 season. Beane, in particular, would’ve been an ambitious target given that he’d need to divest his minority ownership stake in the A’s in order to take a job with the Mets, where former Beane mentor Sandy Alderson is the current team president.
There’s been a good bit of speculation regarding the Mets and that trio, but given Epstein’s comments last year and the contractual status of Stearns and Beane, all three have seemed like long shots. The initial composition of the Mets’ list suggests that they’re aiming for experienced, high-profiled executives to take up the president of baseball operations mantle in Queens, but it’s not yet clear who’ll be interviewed for the post.
Former Padres and D-backs general manager Josh Byrnes, currently a senior vice president of baseball operations with the Dodgers, has reportedly been the subject of internal discussions among the Mets. SNY’s Andy Martino suggested over the weekend that the Mets could look to Brewers GM Matt Arnold, Giants GM Scott Harris or Dodgers assistant GM Brandon Gomes.
Hiring either Arnold or Harris would require the Mets to offer a president of baseball operations title, as executives are generally only allowed to interview with other clubs in order to pursue a promotion (hence the Brewers denying permission to speak to Stearns). Gomes could conceivably be hired as a general manager, although Martino reported that the Dodgers could be prepared to promote Gomes to that position within their own organization if he draws interest elsewhere. Los Angeles does not currently have a general manager under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and has not since then-GM Farhan Zaidi was hired away by the division-rival Giants.
Ray Fosse Passes Away
Longtime Athletics broadcaster and former All-Star catcher Ray Fosse passed away today at age 74, as announced by his wife Carol. Fosse stepped away from the broadcasting booth back in August in order to deal with cancer, as Fosse revealed that he had been fighting with the disease for the last 16 years.
The official statement from the Athletics…
“The Oakland A’s are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Ray Fosse. Few people epitomize what it means to be an Athletic more than Ray. He was the type of franchise icon who always made sure every player, coach, colleague, and fan knew that they were part of the Oakland A’s family. We send our deepest condolences to Carol, Nikki and Lindsey, his family and friends during this difficult time. We’ll miss you, Ray.”
A veteran of 12 MLB seasons from 1967-79, Fosse played for four different teams during his career, but is best known for his eight seasons with the Indians and three years with the A’s. Fosse was a two-time Gold Glove winner and two-time All-Star during his time in Cleveland, with that first ASG appearance resulting in an infamous collision at the plate with Pete Rose on the final play of the 1970 Midsummer Classic. The apocryphal version of the incident is that the collision allegedly ruined Fosse’s career, and though he did suffer lingering shoulder problems for years after the fact, Fosse did go on to play eight more seasons in the bigs.
Fosse’s three seasons in Oakland included World Series victories in both 1973 and 1974, and it led to a long post-retirement association with the A’s after his retirement. Fosse called A’s games on TV and radio from 1986 until this past summer, becoming the voice of Athletics baseball for an entire generation of Bay Area fans.
Many social media tributes have already poured in from friends, fans, players, and colleagues paying homage to Fosse’s legacy in the sport, and to his personal friendships with so many in the game. We at MLB Trade Rumors pass on our condolences to Fosse’s family and loved ones.
Mets To Contact Theo Epstein; Plan To Ask Permission About Billy Beane, David Stearns
The Mets’ search for a new president of baseball operations will lead to a chat with Theo Epstein, as MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports (Twitter link) that the Mets are planning to get in touch with Epstein “soon.” Athletics executive VP Billy Beane and Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns are also on the Mets’ wishlist, as Heyman notes that New York intends to ask the A’s and Brewers for permission to speak with the two executives once Oakland’s season is over, and once Milwaukee’s postseason run is complete.
This isn’t the first time that these three names have been linked to the Mets’ search, and it remains to be seen how serious any of the trio are as candidates — Heyman tweeted just yesterday that Epstein and Stearns were “seen as unlikely gets.” The pursuits of Beane and Stearns could be ended quickly, of course, if their current teams simply denied the Mets permission for a meeting. While teams generally allow employees to interview for higher positions with other teams, Beane and Stearns are already atop their respective clubs’ decision-making pyramid.
As of Wednesday, New York hadn’t yet spoken to any candidates, team president Sandy Alderson told The Athletic’s Tim Britton (Twitter thread) and other reporters. This could make Epstein the first name on the Mets’ list overall, and it would make sense that the team would check in with an unaffiliated potential candidate before tackling the thornier issue of permission from other clubs.
Alderson also noted the interesting detail that the Mets will make a decision on the fate of manager Luis Rojas and the current coaching staff soon after the season is over, even prior to the hiring of a new PoBO. “I would hope those decisions are made with a new leadership potentially in mind, to make sure they have as much flexibility as possible,” Alderson said, which wouldn’t seem to bode well for Rojas’ chances of being retained. The wait should be longer in deciding on the future of acting GM Zack Scott, whose next court date related to a DWI charge isn’t until October 7. Alderson said the Mets will decide on Scott after there has been some resolution in his legal situation.
Ramon Laureano Undergoes Core Surgery
The A’s announced this afternoon that center fielder Ramón Laureano underwent core surgery yesterday. He suffered the injury during his personal training regimen. The team expects he’ll still be ready for Spring Training.
Laureano hasn’t played since August 6, when MLB handed down an 80-game suspension after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. That ruled him out for this season’s final 53 contests, and he’ll miss the first 27 games of next season to complete that punishment.
Over 378 plate appearances, Laureano hit .246/.317/.443 with fourteen home runs. He’s eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason, where he’ll be part of a loaded class that could lead to some significant roster changes for the low-payroll A’s. Oakland looked to be in solid playoff position for much of the year, but they’ll head into the winter having come up a few games short of the postseason for the first time since 2017.
A’s Select Pete Kozma
The Athletics have placed infielder Vimael Machin on the injured list and selected the contract of veteran infielder Pete Kozma from Triple-A Las Vegas, per a club announcement. Oakland didn’t provide an injury designation for Machin, which suggests he’s been placed on the Covid-19-related injured list. He won’t count against the 40-man roster while on that list.
Kozma, 33, will be returning to the big leagues for the first time since 2018. He’s logged 113 games with the A’s top affiliate in 2021 and posted a .244/.307/.337 batting line in 500 trips to the plate.
Offense has never been a strong point for Kozma, a defensive standout with the Cardinals from 2011-15. Kozma was the everyday shortstop in St. Louis in 2013, when the Cardinals made it to Game 6 of the World Series before falling to the Red Sox. Outside of that season, however, Kozma has been primarily used as a bench piece or an up-and-down depth option. He’s only topped 100 plate appearances twice in his career: 2013 (448 plate appearances) and 2015 (111).
It’ll likely be a short stay on Oakland’s 40-man roster for the veteran Kozma, but the A’s are in need of some infield help with Machin on the injured list and with primary shortstop Elvis Andrus sustaining a fractured fibula that required surgery. He can handle any of shortstop, second base or third base over the final weekend’s worth of games. Kozma technically remains arbitration-eligible now that he’s on the roster, but it’s quite possible he’ll simply be outrighted and become a free agent at season’s end.
Elvis Andrus Undergoes Leg Surgery
Athletics shortstop Elvis Andrus underwent successful surgery today to repair a fibula fracture in his left leg, the club announced. The veteran suffered the injury over the weekend. The team anticipates he’ll be ready for Spring Training next season.
Oakland acquired Andrus from the Rangers in February after watching Marcus Semien depart in free agency. Andrus went on to log the bulk of the playing time at short this season, but he didn’t produce much offensively. The 33-year-old hit .243/.294/.320 with only three home runs, production that checked in 28 percentage points below the league average by measure of wRC+. That’s the fourth consecutive well below-average hitting campaign for Andrus, who had a really solid run for much of his time in Texas but has tailed off as he entered his 30’s.
Andrus remains under contract for 2022 on a $14MM salary, $6.75MM of which will be paid down by the Rangers. The deal also contains a $15MM vesting player option for 2023. Were he to reach 550 plate appearances next year, he’d have the right to exercise that option; if he doesn’t hit that playing time tally, he’d hit free agency at the end of the season.
Given Andrus’ continued offensive struggles, it’s possible the A’s look to upgrade the position this winter. Advanced defensive metrics have been split on Andrus’ glovework — Defensive Runs Saved has pegged him as below-average three years running, while he’s rated quite well by Statcast’s Outs Above Average. Most teams would still probably feel comfortable with Andrus’ ability to handle shortstop, but the A’s will assuredly try to be competitive again next season and could look to add a little more offense at the position. There’s likely significant roster turnover on the horizon, and the front office might try to bring in a controllable shortstop option via trade to push Andrus into more of a utility role.
Athletics Designate Michael Feliz For Assignment
The A’s announced they’ve designated reliever Michael Feliz for assignment. His spot on the active roster will go to outfielder Luis Barrera, who has been recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas.
Feliz’s time in Oakland looks as if it’ll wind up being extremely brief. The A’s just grabbed him off waivers from the Red Sox last Monday, marking four separate teams this season for the 28-year-old. He made just one appearance in green and gold, recording one out while allowing a hit and a walk last week against the Mariners.
It has been a roller-coaster type season for Feliz, who began the year with the Pirates. Pittsburgh bumped him from the roster in May, and he landed with the division-rival Reds. He performed very poorly with Cincinnati, leading to a late August release after he spent a couple months on the injured list with an elbow sprain. Boston signed Feliz to a minors deal before quickly selecting him back to the majors amidst COVID-19 spread throughout the clubhouse that left the bullpen shorthanded. With most of their key relievers back, the Sox waived Feliz themselves and he landed in Oakland.
Between the four clubs, the right-hander has worked twenty innings of 7.20 ERA ball. He’s posted fine strikeout and walk rates (24.4% and 7.8%, respectively) but the fly-ball specialist has been too prone to the home run ball and hard contact in general.
Prior to this season, Feliz spent a few years as a higher-strikeout, higher-walk relief option with the Astros and Pirates. The average velocity on both his fastball and slider are down a couple ticks from their 2016-17 peak, but he’s still generated swinging strikes on a decent 12.7% of his offerings this season.
Feliz will wind up back on waivers in the next few days. There’s less than a week remaining in the regular season, and he is ineligible for postseason play because he’s been let go after August 31. Feliz wouldn’t have much time to make an impact on a potential new club this year, although he would be controllable via arbitration next season if another team wants to put in a claim and tender him a contract. If he clears waivers, Feliz would have the right to elect free agency and get a slight head start on his hunt for a new opportunity next season.
Elvis Andrus, Jed Lowrie Done For The Season
Sept. 27: Andrus is meeting with noted orthopedic surgeon Keith Meister after being diagnosed with a fractured fibula in his left leg, per Shayna Rubin of the San Jose Mercury News. At this point, there’s no indication of damage to any ligaments or tendons, so the A’s tentatively expect him to be ready for Spring Training 2022.
Sept. 26: The Athletics have placed infielders Elvis Andrus and Jed Lowrie on the 10-day injured list, per the team. To fill their roster spots, Sam Moll has been reinstated from the paternity list and Vimael Machin was recalled from Triple-A.
That’ll close the books on the 2021 season for Andrus and Lowrie, the A’s middle infield for much of the year. Josh Harrison and Tony Kemp line up in the middle today for the A’s.
For Lowrie, it was without a doubt a bounce-back campaign just in terms of staying healthy enough to play in 139 games and step to the plate 512 times. In terms of his production, it wasn’t his best campaign. Lowrie hit just .245/.318/.398 with 14 long balls.
Andrus was a surprise choice as a replacement for Marcus Semien this year, but he not only kept the job, but he started 141 games at short for the A’s. He hit just .243/.294/.320 over 541 plate appearances, however. That’s good for just a 72 wRC+, leaving plenty of room to second guess Oakland’s decision to make Andrus their regular shortstop.
Machin has been an extra man in the infield for the A’s the past two seasons, though his playing time has been limited. The 28-year-old has a .176/.265/.198 line across 103 plate appearances over the past two seasons.
Moll will head back to the bullpen. He has made six scoreless appearances on the year covering 7 2/3 innings.
Injury Notes: Cousins, Andrus, Loaisiga, Taillon, Cisnero
The Brewers placed righty Jake Cousins on the 10-day injured list due to a right biceps strain, as right-hander Miguel Sanchez was called up from Triple-A to take Cousins’ spot on the active roster. Speaking with The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Todd Rosiak and other reporters, Brewers GM Matt Arnold described Cousins’ injury as “nothing major,” adding that “We just want to be careful. It’s that time of year where we want to make sure he’s available in a playoff capacity.”
Considering that Cousins didn’t even make his MLB debut until June 21, his status as a potential postseason weapon is a sign of how well he has performed during his rookie season. Cousins has a 2.70 ERA over 30 relief innings, along with an eye-popping 35.2% strikeout rate — not far off his minor league numbers since joining the Milwaukee organization in 2019. While Cousins’ control hasn’t been nearly as impressive (15.2% walk rate), opponents haven’t been able to take much advantage, as Cousins has been carving up batters with his wipeout slider.
More on other injury situations around baseball…
- While scoring the game-winning run in the Athletics‘ 2-1 walkoff win over the Astros today, Elvis Andrus suffered a left ankle injury and had to be helped off the field. A’s manager Bob Melvin told MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos and other reporters that Andrus is getting x-rays after “feeling a pop” in his ankle. More will be known after Andrus has been tested, but it certainly looks like the 33-year-old’s season could be over, as the shortstop could be facing a serious injury. It has been a tough year overall for Andrus, as he has hit only .243/.294/.320 over 541 plate appearances in his first season in Oakland.
- The Yankees could have Jonathan Loaisiga and Jameson Taillon back from the injured list during the club’s upcoming series against the Blue Jays, manager Aaron Boone told reporters (including ESPN’s Marly Rivera and Newsday’s Erik Boland). Loaisiga was sidelined on September 5 with a strained right rotator cuff, but the reliever has already thrown one bullpen session and will throw another soon, Boone said. Taillon has missed close to the game amount of time with an ankle injury, though he has been on a minor league rehab assignment and threw a bullpen today.
- Jose Cisnero‘s IL stint has lasted beyond the minimum 10 days, and Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including Chris McCosky of The Detroit News) that while Cisnero hasn’t yet been shut down, a return this season is “improbable.” Cisnero has been hampered by swelling around the right elbow laceration that first sent him to the injured list back on September 14. If this is it for the right-hander in 2021, Cisnero will finish with a 3.65 ERA over 61 2/3 innings, marking his third consecutive year of solid work out of Detroit’s bullpen.