Which Oakland Athletics Reliever Will Win the Final Bullpen Job?
Going to back to at least 2012, the Oakland Athletics have opened the season with seven relievers on their major league roster. Teams vary from six to seven bullpen arms, based on their bench needs, but the A’s have been pretty consistent in selecting an extra pitcher over an extra position player each year.
So far this spring, six of the potential bullpen spots seem to be locks for 2016. Lefty Sean Doolittle will be the team’s closer, with a supporting cast of right-handers Ryan Madson, Liam Hendriks, John Axford and Fernando Rodriguez. Marc Rzepczynski will be the team’s left-handed specialist. That leaves just one possible opening for all of the other relief pitchers in camp.
While there have been many pitchers to take the mound for the Athletics this Spring Training, the majority of them will not be in consideration for a major league job, and in the end, all but one of them will start their season in the minors or on another team. On Monday, the Athletics knocked two more potential relievers from the list when they optioned J.B. Wendelken and Andrew Triggs to Triple-A Nashville.
That leaves four players who have some potential to make the cut: two left-handers and two right-handers. Who will win the battle for the last remaining bullpen spot?
Starting with the least likely option, let’s take a look at the possibilities:
Next: #4: A right-hander with a new pitch