Oakland A’s: Three potential trade targets for the pitching staff
The Oakland A’s have plenty of holes to fill in their pitching staff. They may well be active on the trade front this offseason.
With ten free agents, the Oakland A’s are going to have a busy offseason. Even if that does not result in moves made via free agency, they will still need to evaluate their minor leagues to see where they would have players to plug into those gaps.
That evaluation will lead to determining which players will be a part of the long term for the A’s, and which players could be expendable. Chances are, the A’s will be active on the trade front, looking for established players that can either fill the void until one of their prospects are ready, or to provide a lower cost upgrade to their roster.
As teams look to cut payroll, there could be some bargains to be had in the trade market. This is an area that the A’s can exploit, looking to fill those holes in their roster, especially in their pitching staff, and find their way back to the postseason.
Let’s take a look at some players that the Oakland A’s could target on the trade market.
Jose Alvarad
The Oakland A’s payroll restrictions are nothing compared to the financial issues that surround the Rays.
Virtually anyone that makes even a reasonable salary is subject to be traded, regardless of what that amount is. In the case of Jose Alvarado, he may not be tendered a contract as the Rays look to avoid adding to their payroll.
With that being the case, the Rays may be willing to listen when it comes to trading the hard throwing lefty. He has tantalized with his stuff, but has struggled with consistency, as evidenced by his career 3.46 ERA and a 1.319 WHiP. Command has been his biggest issue, as Alvarado has struck out 161 batters in 132.2 innings, but has also issued 71 walks and uncorked 15 wild pitches.
Projected to earn approximately $1 million in his first trek through arbitration, Alvarado may still be too expensive for the Rays tastes. Instead, they may dangle him on the trade block in hopes that another team will bite. Given his high octane fastball and intriguing potential, the Oakland A’s should be interested if Alvarado is indeed available.
Sonny Gray
The Cincinnati Reds have reportedly made Sonny Gray available on the trade block. If that is the case, the Oakland A’s should come calling.
A former first round pick by the A’s in the 2011 MLB Draft, Gray spent four and a half years with the A’s before being traded to the Yankees. That stint in New York was a disaster, as he was sent to Cincinnati. There, he resurrected his career, once again looking like a top of the rotation caliber arm.
That is the type of pitcher that the A’s need right now. That lack of an ace hurt in the postseason, especially when they were eliminated by the Astros. Signed for two more years at a total of $20.33 million, and with a $12 million option for 2023, Gray would be far more than a rental for Oakland.
That salary, as well as the Reds’ hopes to build a sustainable contender, likely mean that Gray will not be cheap to acquire. Likewise, there is no guarantee that he will even be available, as Cincinnati could just be doing their due diligence. But that does not mean that the A’s should ignore the possibility to upgrade their rotation.
Former Oakland A’s starter Sonny Gray may be on the trade block. If that is the case, a reunion may be in order.
Lance Lynn
The Oakland A’s attempted to shore up their pitching staff by making a trade with the Rangers once already, acquiring Mike Minor for the stretch run. Maybe the second time will be the charm.
As the Rangers are rebuilding, Lance Lynn will be an attractive trade chip if he is to be put on the market. There are some roadblocks in acquiring him, as he is in the final year of his three year contract and has a $100,000 trade assignment bonus if he is dealt to a west coast team. However, at just under $9.5 million for the 2021 season, he is still a bargain.
Lynn has been excellent since joining the Rangers, a workhorse in an era when that type of pitcher is going extinct. He has posted a 3.57 ERA and a 1.173 WHiP over 292.1 innings, striking out 335 batters with just 84 walks. While Lynn may not be considered an ace caliber pitcher, his performance indicates otherwise.
There are going to be plenty of teams interested in Lynn. The A’s will likely need to part with a notable package of prospects to bring him on board. But for his production over the past two seasons, and his extremely reasonable salary, Lynn is the type of pitcher the A’s should take a look at.
Next. So the Rays need a catcher.... dark
The Oakland A’s need help for their pitching staff. These three arms could make a difference in 2021.