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3 free agent bargains for Oakland A’s

By David Hill |
Jul 16, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Danny Duffy (30) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 16, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Danny Duffy (30) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
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The Oakland A’s are not going to be shopping at the higher end of free agency.

For that matter, the A’s are not going to be shopping at the Wal-Mart of free agency either. Their mandate to have as low a payroll as possible is going to leave them searching through the dumpsters, trying to scavenge a viable option for the roster. Even that might be too much for the A’s.

Three potential bargain free agents for Oakland A’s to target

But the A’s are going to need to do something. They have already begun their dumpster diving, signing Tyler Wade to a minor league contract. Chances are, any other moves will be along similar lines. It is just a matter of finding bargains on other minor league deals.

The Oakland A’s have plenty of holes on their roster and will need to find some free agent bargains. Here are three possible players to target.

Danny Duffy

Danny Duffy was traded to the Dodgers back on July 29, 2021. He had re-signed there after reaching free agency, a one year deal with a team option for 2023. As I have thrown the same amount of pitches for the Dodgers as Duffy has, it is clear that his option will be declined.

He has battled a flexor strain that required surgery during the offseason, leading to an initial timetable of June for his return. However, he suffered setbacks during the recovery process, making it likely that he will not receive anything beyond a minor league contract this offseason.

But Duffy could be a bargain on such a deal. He had posted a career best 2.51 ERA and a 1.213 WHiP in his 61 innings prior to injury in 2021, striking out 65 batters with 22 walks. While he is unlikely to perform at that level, especially with that lost time due to injury, he had been a solid middle to back of the rotation arm over the years.

The Oakland A’s could use someone in that role. Cole Irvin, Paul Blackburn, and James Kaprielian are likely guaranteed spots in the rotation next year, but the final two spots are up for grabs. Bringing in someone such as Duffy to contend for a spot, and to potentially be flipped at the deadline, would make sense from a depth standpoint.

Danny Duffy has a solid track record and is likely to receive a minor league deal. He is the type of player that the A’s should target.

Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /

Jackie Bradley Jr.

The Oakland A’s have the potential to have a strong outfield in 2023 if players return to form.

However, there is no guarantee that the A’s will have that outfield heading into next year. Ramon Laureano could end up being traded if a team is willing to pay for his previous performance. Players may not live up to their potential or replicate their smaller sample size performances. It makes sense to bring in a veteran option that could return to form themselves.

Enter Jackie Bradley Jr. While he has typically been below average with the bat, he does have a blend of decent power and speed while being able to draw a walk. Bradley has also been an excellent defensive option, capable of playing all three spots in the outfield while performing at a Gold Glove level.

It has been years since Bradley was even close to respectable offensively. He has a combined 45 OPS+ with ten homers and 37 doubles in his 798 plate appearances since the start of the 2021 season. However, he can still provide enough defensively to serve as a fourth outfielder and, if he can get his bat back on track, could be a bargain.

Jackie Bradley Jr. is likely going to have to settle for a minor league contract to prove himself. He could be a perfect option for the Oakland A’s to fill out the outfield.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Jake McGee

It is amazing how quickly it all fell apart for Jake McGee.

The San Francisco Giants closer in 2021 when he notched 31 saves in their 107 win season, he was a shell of himself in 2022. He pitched for three different teams last season, posting a combined 6.81 ERA and a 1.432 WHiP over his 37 innings, striking out 25 batters with 12 walks. Everything that could have gone wrong for McGee did.

At 36 years old, and with 650 major league games on his arm, it is fair to wonder how much is left in the tank. His 6.1 K/9 rate was the lowest of his career while his walk rate ticked up to the same levels as his time in Colorado.

But McGee had success just a year ago. He is also a left handed reliever who has struck out over a batter per inning in his career. Although he is likely looking at a minor league deal this offseason, he is the type of pitcher that could generate plenty of interest. For a team such as the Oakland A’s, he would be a perfect option to bring in to help stabilize the back end of the bullpen.

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Left handed relievers with a track record of success will keep getting chances. The A’s should be the next stop for Jake McGee.

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