Don Sutton (1985)
Don Sutton may have been past his prime when he pitched for the Oakland A’s in 1985, but he was still a productive pitcher.
He was acquired by the A’s, along with Ray Burris, in a trade with the Brewers following the 1984 season. In theory, Sutton was going to provide a steady veteran presence in the middle of the A’s rotation, possibly allowing them to contend in the AL West.
Sutton did his part that season. In his 29 appearances for Oakland, he posted a 13-8 record, along with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.261 WHiP in his 194.1 innings. He was no longer the strikeout pitcher he had been, with only 91 strikeouts, but he also issued only 51 walks.
The A’s, meanwhile, would go on to finish fourth in the division with a 77-85 record. Sutton was traded in August, going to the Angels in exchange for a pair of minor leaguers as they attempted to chase down the Royals for the AL West. Sutton was solid once again, but the Angels were unable to take the crown that year.
Don Sutton had a solid career, winning over 300 games and notching more than 3000 strikeouts. His time with the Oakland A’s may have been brief, but he was exactly what they hoped for.