Oakland Athletics: The Top 50 Oakland A’s of All-Time

#45: Andrew Bailey

Andrew Bailey’s career has tailed off rapidly in the last few seasons, thanks to injuries and long-term disabled list stints that have led to a decline in performance. With the Oakland Athletics, however, it was a very different story.

Bailey was the 2009 Rookie of the Year after a stellar season that resulted in 26 saves and a 1.84 ERA. He set a record for the number of saves by a rookie Athletics pitcher, and seemed on his way to becoming a top reliever. However, after a solid stint with the Athletics that included a pair of All-Star appearances, as well as a 1.47 ERA season in 2010, his career began to decline.

After the 2011 season, Bailey was dealt to the Boston Red Sox, where he had a moderately successful stint in 2013 as the temporary closer, before an injury shut him down for the season. He was non-tendered, then spent all of 2014 on the New York Yankees’ disabled list before making a brief and disappointing return to the big leagues in September of last season.

It’s possible that at least some of Bailey’s struggles related to a late 2011 injury, when he was hit on the head with a line drive during batting practice. For whatever reason, Bailey is hardly the same All-Star closer he was with the Athletics now, but when he was in Oakland, he was exceptional.

Next: Top 50 Oakland Athletics: #44