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Oakland A’s may have future bullpen piece in Michael Feliz

By David Hill

May 31, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds closing pitcher Michael Feliz (46) throws against the Philadelphia Phillies during the ninth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
May 31, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds closing pitcher Michael Feliz (46) throws against the Philadelphia Phillies during the ninth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
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One of the constant realities with the Oakland A’s is the need to balance the present and the future. Every move, even if it is designed to help for the current season, is made with future considerations in mind. Such is the case with their latest move to shore up the bullpen.

On Monday, the A’s announced that they have claimed Michael Feliz off waivers from the Boston Red Sox. To clear a roster spot, catcher Aramis Garcia has been designated for assignment.

Oakland A’s hoping for future piece of puzzle with Michael Feliz

There was a time when Feliz was considered to be an intriguing prospect for the Astros. He had displayed solid swing and miss stuff with good control as a starter in the minors, but spent his time in the majors as a reliever. His major league numbers have not been what anyone would have hoped for, as he has posted a 5.33 ERA and a 1.401 WHiP in his 246.1 innings.

His performance this year does not inspire much hope either. Between his time with the Reds, Red Sox, and Pirates, Feliz had posted a 7.32 ERA and a 1.576 WHiP over his 19.2 innings. However, those numbers are skewed by his disastrous stint in Cincinnati, where he allowed 12 runs and 17 baserunners in his 6.2 innings.

Feliz has had moments of usefulness at the major league level. He had posted a 3.99 ERA and a 1.260 WHiP in his 56.1 innings in 2019. If his time in Cincinnati is excluded, he allowed only five runs, four earned, in his 13 innings this year. He is still striking out over ten batters per nine innings with solid walk numbers, only to be bitten by the home run as he is a fly ball pitcher in smaller parks.

For the A’s, he is certainly worth the roster move. Not only does he have the type of stuff that the bullpen is generally lacking, but he has additional years of team control. If he can prove to be a solid piece of the bullpen over the next couple of weeks, he could end up having a role in the future, especially considering the holes that the bullpen could have next season.

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The Oakland A’s have brought in Michael Feliz. He could be a part of their future in the bullpen if he performs well for the rest of the year.