Elephant Rumblings: Rash of Reliever Signings Thin Market for Athletics

SB Nation

Morning all!

Things remain mostly quiet on the Athletics front right now but things were certainly moving on the free agent market yesterday as multiple relief pitchers came off the board. There are still

options out there remaining but many of the best arms in the Athletics’ price range have found their new homes for next season.

In the past week alone we’ve seen backend type pitchers like Kyle Finnegan (2-years, $19 million with Detroit), Kenley Jansen (again, Detroit for 1-year at $11 million), Gregory Soto (1-year, $7.75 million), and Tyler Rogers (3-years, $37 million) all ink contracts for the coming season(s). Not to mention the top option on the market in Edwin Diaz signing with the reigning World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers (3-years, $66 million, a record-setting contract for a reliever) and Robert Suarez cashing in with the Atlanta Braves (3-years, $45 million). Plus plenty of other middle relievers that are too many to name.

And just yesterday we saw four more notable relievers* come off the board that could have theoretically been targets for the “cash-strapped” A’s. The division-rival Angels dipped their toes into the free agent reliever pool twice signing former Athletic Drew Pomeranz (1-year, $4 million) and former Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano (1-year, $2 million). A couple left-handed Caleb’s came off the board when the Chicago Cubs brought back Caleb Thielbar (1-year, unknown salary) and the Reds signed Caleb Ferguson (one-year, unknown salary). Any or all of those arms could have been a worthwhile investment for an A’s team in need of more than just depth at Triple-A.

*Longtime righty Chris Martin also signed yesterday though if he was going to pitch next year it would have only been with the Texas Rangers.

It’s not as though the A’s have been completely left out in the cold during this massive signing wave from relief pitchers. They did come to terms with right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. to provide stability in the middle innings, something the team was sorely in need of. At just $3 million for the coming year no one should expect an impervious reliever but the veteran of six seasons should up the floor of the current relief unit.

If we’re being honest though it’d likely be a mistake to take this bullpen into Opening Day as is and expect it to thrive over the course of a 162-game schedule. There is still a need for a bona fide closer though the options are dwindling. And at this point there aren’t many exciting options out there. The best option on the market left is arguably former Rays closer Pete Fairbanks but it seems as though the sheer number of teams interested in the right-handed closer will push certain teams out of the contest for his services. Right-hander Shawn Armstrong is also a quality free agent reliever but it seems he’d rather return to the Rangers. Righty Luke Weaver would be an interesting option but like Armstrong is reportedly interested in returning to New York. The club could take a massive flyer on an older but experienced arm like Kirby Yates (39 years old on Opening Day) or David Robertson (41).

Then there’s always the trade market I suppose but it’s definitely starting to feel like the A’s are prepared to go into Spring Training with a battle for the Opening Day closer’s role up for grabs. There are interesting arms but none of them are proven. When has that strategy ever not worked out? Mark Kotsay had his work cut out for him last year and might have just as big a challenge this year without someone like Mason Miller anchoring the backend of the bullpen.

Just something to ponder. Have a good one everyone!

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