The Oakland Athletics completed the first trade of what could be a massive selling window for the East Bay club ahead of the trade deadline on Wednesday.
The A's traded right-handed pitcher Shintaro Fujinami to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Minor League left-handed pitcher Easton Lucas on Wednesday, July 19.
A’s are trading Shintaro Fujinami to the Orioles
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 19, 2023
Per Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors, "Jon Heyman of the New York Post first reported the trade. Before the news broke, "John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle and Martin Gallegos of MLB.com had observed that Fujinami was saying goodbye to his teammates."
Oakland signed Fujinami last offseason with the Japanese arriving from the Nippon Professional Baseball league in his native country. He had played 10 years for the Hanshin Tigers there, and he signed a one-year deal with the A's in some sort of a prove-it deal handed by Oakland.
That way, Fujinami could test the MLB waters while the franchise still protected itself from any long-term risk if the pitcher could never acclimate to the American ballgame.
Shintaro Fujinami was giving hugs and saying goodbyes to teammates inside the A's clubhouse. Looks like he's on the move.
— Martín Gallegos (@MartinJGallegos) July 19, 2023
In return for sending Fuji to Baltimore, the A's are receiving Lucas, a former 14th-round selection by the Marlins in 2019. The left-handed pitcher should stay with the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, the A's affiliate in their soon-to-be-town, but who knows with this ballclub.
With the A's embarking on a long-term rebuilding effort that will probably last into their arrival in Las Vegas, more moves are expected sooner rather than later.