The Oakland A’s have wanted Ryan Noda for years. On Wednesday, they were finally able to bring him on board.
That moment came in the Rule V Draft. The A’s selected Noda with the second overall pick in the major league portion, one of just two position players out of the 15 selections made in the draft.
Ryan Noda an intriguing piece for Oakland A’s
As noted by A’s general manager David Forst, Noda has been on their radar for some time now. They had attempted to bring him in as part of the ill-fated Adam Kolarek deal and has been part of trade discussions over the past two years. In the end, the A’s only had to give up just a few thousand dollars to bring him on board.
It is easy to understand why the A’s would be intrigued by Noda. He has plenty of power in his bat and the versatility to play at either first base or both corner outfield positions. His defense is an asset at any of those spots, and with his ability to draw a walk, he could be a part of the A’s plans in 2023.
His performance at Triple-A would seemingly bode well. Noda produced a .259/.396/.474 batting line with 25 homers and 23 doubles in his 574 plate appearances, adding 20 steals. If he can come close to replicating that success at the major league level, he would be a steal for the A’s, the latest in a line of successful picks in the Rule V Draft.
The A’s may also be the perfect place for Noda to get his chance. He was blocked in every possible way with the Dodgers while the A’s have a wide open roster. Given their needs and Noda’s power potential, he could easily find his way into a regular spot in the lineup.
The Oakland A’s have been eyeing a trade for Ryan Noda for years. They finally got their man in exchange for the Rule V Draft fee.