Oakland Athletics: Free Agent Reliever Sean Marshall Could Be Cheap, Yet Viable Option
In the past, the Oakland Athletics have been known for having one of the better bullpens in the league. However, this past season was different. The Athletics’ pen had a 4.63 ERA, blew countless save opportunities and one-run leads, and was ultimately one of the worst bullpens in the MLB. Oakland is going to need to completely overhaul their bullpen this offseason after a dismal 2015 performance.
It will help to have a healthy Sean Doolittle back in the closer role this next season, but the A’s also need some strong late inning relief arms to back him up. But, as always, the penny-pinching Athletics are going to look at some of the cheaper options instead of the big named players. One of those would be Cincinnati Reds’ reliever Sean Marshall.
Marshall will be inexpensive because of the injuries he has incurred that past three seasons. Marshall has dealt with shoulder issues that kept him on the disabled list for all of 2015 and limited him to pitching a combined total of only 24.1 innings in 2014 and 2013. However, after undergoing two shoulder surgeries – one in June 2014 and one in May 2015 , Marshall still hopes to pitch at the Major League level in 2016.
The Athletics are known for signing seemingly down and out players that then thrive once coming to Oakland. Just look at Scott Kazmir, who struggled in 2010 and 2011, and then took a full year off from pitching in the big leagues in 2012. The A’s signed Kazmir after just one ok year back in the MLB. Marshall is a little different since he has not pitched at all this past year, but he was one of the best left-handed relievers in the game before going down with the shoulder injuries.
In the peak of his career between 2010 and 2012, Marshall held a 2.47 ERA and struck out 243 batters over 211.1 innings pitched. Additionally, Marshall has a good pitching repertoire under his belt with a four-seam and two-seam fastball, a curveball, and a slider. He has also told the press that he may be switching up his arm motion in order to protect his shoulder from future injuries. After nine years in the MLB, a new throwing motion could provide new life to an experienced relief pitcher.
Lastly, if he is completely healthy, Marshall could be the perfect eighth inning setup man for the Oakland Athletics. The A’s do not currently have anyone to fill this role and Marshall is a veteran who is accustomed to pitching in this relief position. There would also be no reason to worry about him snagging the closer role from Doolittle. Marshall was appointed the Reds’ closer in 2012, but ultimately could not handle the pressure and Aroldis Chapman took over. He performed much better as the setup man.
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If the Oakland Athletics deem that Marshall’s injuries have been fully resolved, he would not be a bad option for the A’s bullpen. Yes, the Athletics are looking to build toward the future and will be looking at some younger relief talent, but it would be beneficial for all the if there was a veteran reliever in the pen to help mentor and provide leadership. However, the Athletics should only go for Marshall if there is without a shadow of a doubt that he will be healthy for the entire 2016 season.