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Garrett Acton

Rays, Garrett Acton Agree To Two-Year Minor League Deal

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The Rays are in agreement with right-handed reliever Garrett Acton on a two-year minor league contract, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post (X link). It’s a split deal that would pay him at the MLB minimum rate of $740K next season and a $775K salary in 2025 for any time he spends in the big leagues.

Acton, 25, made his major league debut last season. The Illinois product pitched in six games, allowing eight runs in 5 2/3 innings. While his small sample results were rough, Acton averaged nearly 96 MPH on his fastball in that time. Over 29 Triple-A innings, he had an impressive 26.4% strikeout percentage and a decent 8.8% walk rate. Acton has posted big strikeout tallies throughout his time in the minors, although the fly-ball specialist has also had trouble keeping the ball in the yard.

Oakland released Acton in the middle of July. He had been placed on the minor league injured list with an undisclosed health issue on June 11. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets that Acton had undergone Tommy John surgery. He’s likely to miss most of next season, explaining the two-year term on the deal.

Acton has less than one year of MLB service and a pair of option years. If the Rays add him to the 40-man roster at any point within the next two seasons, they could easily move him between Tampa Bay and Triple-A Durham.

A’s Release Garrett Acton

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The A’s have placed reliever Garrett Acton on release waivers, according to the transaction tracker at MLB.com. The move drops Oakland’s 40-man roster tally to 39.

Acton, 25, made his big league debut after the A’s selected his contract in mid-May. He pitched six times, allowing eight runs in 5 2/3 innings. Oakland optioned him to Triple-A Las Vegas at the end of the month. Two weeks later, he was placed on the minor league IL with an undisclosed injury. He hasn’t pitched since June 11.

MLB rules prohibit teams from placing injured players on outright waivers. If the A’s wanted to take Acton off the 40-man roster, their options were to put him on the major league 60-day IL or release him. The former course of action would’ve required paying him at the prorated portion of the $720K MLB minimum for whatever time he was on the shelf. Instead, Oakland has opted for the release (which isn’t uncommon in situations like this).

If Acton goes unclaimed on waivers, he’ll be a free agent. Players in this scenario often re-sign with the team that just released them on a new minor league pact — thereby remaining in the organization without occupying a 40-man spot — but the Illinois product would have the ability to explore other opportunities.

Oakland hasn’t announced a corresponding move. It’s possible they’ll select the contract of a hitter who isn’t currently on the 40-man roster, however. First baseman Ryan Noda will be placed on the 10-day injured list tomorrow, relays Martín Gallegos of MLB.com (Twitter link). He has a fracture in his jaw that’ll keep him out for an indeterminate period of time.

Noda remarkably played through the injury yesterday against the Red Sox and hit a homer and a double. It was the continuation of a strong rookie season for the left-handed hitter, who has been an excellent find in the Rule 5 draft. The 27-year-old has a .229/.375/.418 line with 11 homers and a massive 17.6% walk rate through his first 341 big league plate appearances.

Athletics Select Garrett Acton, Activate Aledmys Diaz

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The A’s have announced a series of roster moves this morning, as the club selected the contract of right-hander Garrett Acton and activated infielder Aledmys Diaz from the 10-day injured list. To clear room for the pair on the active roster, right-hander James Kaprielian and infielder Kevin Smith have been optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Acton, 25, joined the A’s organization in 2021 and has a career 4.37 ERA in 148 1/3 minor league innings. His first appearance with the A’s this season will be his major league debut. Acton joins the roster alongside the return of Diaz, who joined the A’s on a two-year, $14MM deal this offseason. Diaz struggled badly to open the season with Oakland, slashing just .153/.226/.212 in 93 plate appearances before heading to the IL. While Diaz’s struggles with the bat were pronounced, he did show off his trademark versatility, appearing at all four infield spots prior to his IL stint.

Making room for the duo on the roster are Smith, 26, and Kaprielian, 29. Smith provides a similar versatility to Diaz, with experience at both outfield corners and all four infield spots throughout his career to this point. Since coming over to the A’s as part of the Matt Chapman trade, Smith has slashed just .181/.212/.307 in 233 plate appearances with the club. Kaprielian, meanwhile, was a first round pick by the Yankees in the 2015 draft, and made his debut for Oakland in 2020. Despite his draft pedigree, Kaprielian has struggled mightily in the big leagues during parts of four seasons with the A’s, posting a 4.69 ERA (84 ERA+) in 280 innings of work. That figure includes a ghastly 10.17 ERA in 23 innings this season.

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