3 free agent bargains for Oakland A’s
By David Hill
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.