Are the Athletics good now?

At the very least, the team that once called Oakland home is attempting to get better, and quickly. Earlier in the off-season, they signed Luis Severino to a three-year, $67 million deal, the largest contract they’ve given out in franchise history.
They added to their rotation on Saturday, as they traded Joe Boyle, Will Simpson, Jacob Watters, and a competitive balance draft pick to the Tampa Bay Rays for starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs.
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Tampa Bay will be receiving right-handers Joe Boyle and Jacob Watters, outfielder Will Simpson as well as a compensation A round draft pick from the A&#39;s, sources tell ESPN. Jeffrey Springs and one other player are headed from Tampa to the A&#39;s.
&mdash; Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1867978655198273777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Springs, 32, only pitched 33 innings in 2024, where he had a 3.27 ERA and a 3.98 FIP, with a 26.1 K% and a 7.7 BB%. The left-handed pitcher missed most of the season due to Tommy John surgery and only pitched 16 innings the year prior.
In his last full season back in 2022, he had a 2.46 ERA and a 3.04 FIP in 135.1 innings pitched, along with a 26.2 K% and a 5.6 BB%. Through his seven seasons in the big leagues, he’s only pitched 313.2 innings, with a 3.39 ERA and a 3.64 FIP, along with a 27.2 K% and a 7.9 BB%.
The Athletics may not be good when they move to Sacramento next season for three years, but at least they’re trying to be competitive. Too bad it took them to move from Oakland to do so.
<h2>The Athletics inquired about Alec Bohm</h2>
Speaking of the Athletics,<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5994597/2024/12/14/mariners-luis-castillo-trade-mlb-offseason-notes/"> Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic</a> reported on Saturday that the Athletics inquired about Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm.
Last season, the 28-year-old slashed .280/.332/.448 with 15 home runs in 606 plate appearances, giving him a career-high 115 wRC+ and 3.5 fWAR (minimum 200 plate appearances).
Defensively, Bohm is not great, to put it mildly. For his career, he has -46 Defensive Runs Saved and 4 Outs Above Average in 4063 innings at the hot corner. However, he had 0 DRS and 4 OAA in 1096 innings last season.
Still, when the Phillies asked for ace closer, Mason Miller, you can see why the conversation immediately stopped for the Athletics. Last season, the 26-year-old righty had a 2.49 ERA and a 2.18 FIP in 65 innings pitched, with a 41.8 K% and an 8.4 BB% with 28 saves. He averages 101.1 mph with his fastball and won’t be a free agent until after the 2029 season.
The Athletics may eventually trade him, but it would be a lot more than Bohm.
<h2>Brian Serven signs with the Tigers</h2>
It was reported by Just Baseball’s Aram Leighton on Monday evening that former Blue Jay catcher Brian Serven signed with the Detroit Tigers on a minor-league deal.
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The Tigers and catcher Brian Serven have agreed to a minor league deal, source tells <a href="https://twitter.com/JustBB_Media?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JustBB_Media</a>. Includes an invite to Spring Training.
&mdash; Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) <a href="https://twitter.com/AramLeighton8/status/1868796837056200999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Last season, Serven played for the Blue Jays on a minor league deal and only totaled 71 plate appearances. Some of that came when Danny Jansen was on the Injured List, while he also got some playing time when the Blue Jays were well out of postseason contention and Jansen was traded. Overall, Serven slashed .159/.243/.222 with no home runs, for a 38 wRC+ and a -0.2 fWAR.
Serven’s career year came in 2022 with the Colorado Rockies, where he slashed .203/.261/.332 with six home runs in 205 plate appearances for a 54 wRC+ and a 0.6 fWAR.
Best of luck to Serven!
<hr />
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

Are the Athletics good now?



At the very least, the team that once called Oakland home is attempting to get better, and quickly. Earlier in the off-season, they signed Luis Severino to a three-year, $67 million deal, the largest contract they’ve given out in franchise history.

They added to their rotation on Saturday, as they traded Joe Boyle, Will Simpson, Jacob Watters, and a competitive balance draft pick to the Tampa Bay Rays for starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs.

https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1867978655198273777

Springs, 32, only pitched 33 innings in 2024, where he had a 3.27 ERA and a 3.98 FIP, with a 26.1 K% and a 7.7 BB%. The left-handed pitcher missed most of the season due to Tommy John surgery and only pitched 16 innings the year prior.

In his last full season back in 2022, he had a 2.46 ERA and a 3.04 FIP in 135.1 innings pitched, along with a 26.2 K% and a 5.6 BB%. Through his seven seasons in the big leagues, he’s only pitched 313.2 innings, with a 3.39 ERA and a 3.64 FIP, along with a 27.2 K% and a 7.9 BB%.

The Athletics may not be good when they move to Sacramento next season for three years, but at least they’re trying to be competitive. Too bad it took them to move from Oakland to do so.
<h2>The Athletics inquired about Alec Bohm</h2>
Speaking of the Athletics,<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5994597/2024/12/14/mariners-luis-castillo-trade-mlb-offseason-notes/"> Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic</a> reported on Saturday that the Athletics inquired about Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm.

Last season, the 28-year-old slashed .280/.332/.448 with 15 home runs in 606 plate appearances, giving him a career-high 115 wRC+ and 3.5 fWAR (minimum 200 plate appearances).

Defensively, Bohm is not great, to put it mildly. For his career, he has -46 Defensive Runs Saved and 4 Outs Above Average in 4063 innings at the hot corner. However, he had 0 DRS and 4 OAA in 1096 innings last season.

Still, when the Phillies asked for ace closer, Mason Miller, you can see why the conversation immediately stopped for the Athletics. Last season, the 26-year-old righty had a 2.49 ERA and a 2.18 FIP in 65 innings pitched, with a 41.8 K% and an 8.4 BB% with 28 saves. He averages 101.1 mph with his fastball and won’t be a free agent until after the 2029 season.

The Athletics may eventually trade him, but it would be a lot more than Bohm.
<h2>Brian Serven signs with the Tigers</h2>
It was reported by Just Baseball’s Aram Leighton on Monday evening that former Blue Jay catcher Brian Serven signed with the Detroit Tigers on a minor-league deal.

https://twitter.com/AramLeighton8/status/1868796837056200999

&nbsp;

Last season, Serven played for the Blue Jays on a minor league deal and only totaled 71 plate appearances. Some of that came when Danny Jansen was on the Injured List, while he also got some playing time when the Blue Jays were well out of postseason contention and Jansen was traded. Overall, Serven slashed .159/.243/.222 with no home runs, for a 38 wRC+ and a -0.2 fWAR.

Serven’s career year came in 2022 with the Colorado Rockies, where he slashed .203/.261/.332 with six home runs in 205 plate appearances for a 54 wRC+ and a 0.6 fWAR.

Best of luck to Serven!

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

News and Notes: The Rays trade Jeffrey Springs to the Athletics

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