The offseason has not even started yet and the Oakland A’s are already making moves in free agency.
It is also the type of move one should expect to see all offseason. The A’s have signed Tyler Wade to a minor league deal and will presumably invite him to the major league portion of spring training as he looks to land a bench role for 2023.
Tyler Wade looking for opportunity with Oakland A’s
There was a time when Wade was considered an intriguing prospect for the Yankees. A fourth round selection in the 2013 MLB Draft, he was lauded for his contact ability and speed. He found his way to the majors four years later, getting a chance in New York as a utility player.
He was never able to establish himself with the Yankees as he never received more than 145 plate appearances in a season. Wade was designated for assignment during the 2021-22 offseason, landing with the Angels a few days later. He spent the first three months in their lineup but was unable to do anything with the opportunity, returning to the Yankees after being DFA’s again in June.
Wade’s blend of contact and speed has not led to much major league success. He has posted a career .214/.291/.298 batting line with seven homers and 24 doubles in his 654 plate appearances. The speed has been able to manifest, as he has stolen 38 bases, but his contact approach has not impressed in the majors.
He is, however, the type of player that the A’s have horded lately. Wade is another player in the Ernie Clement/Sheldon Neuse mold – someone that makes contact and can play multiple positions while having been at least reasonably well regarded in the minors. It is the type of player that they are hoping to find lightning in a bottle with. Instead, he is likely to be another Quad-A player shuffled around between the majors and Triple-A as the A’s desperately attempt to find options on the bench.
The Oakland A’s have signed Tyler Wade to a minor league contract. He is yet another contact and speed player without major league success for the minors.