Oakland A’s: Three bold predictions for 2021

Lou Trivino becomes closer by end of season

The Oakland A’s were the surprise winners of the Trevor Rosenthal Sweepstakes, signing him to an $11 million deal with $8 million deferred. In theory, this will take care of the ninth inning.

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However, Rosenthal is not exactly a given. As brilliant as he was in 2020, he was equally putrid in 2019. One could forgive his performance that year as he was coming off of Tommy John surgery, but he was not exactly a light’s out closer in the two seasons prior to that either.

The A’s do have backup in Sergio Romo. He has been a solid enough reliever over his career, serving in a variety of roles, including as a closer for several teams. But he is getting older, and did have his struggles at times last year.

That would leave Lou Trivino as the A’s option. He had been considered their closer in waiting before a miserable 2019 campaign, a role that he has seemingly taken back after a solid 2020 season and strong spring training. If Rosenthal and Romo struggle, that time could happen sooner than expected, especially as Trivino would be a long term answer.

Neither of those relievers are a given. Lou Trivino will take over the ninth inning by the end of the year.