The Athletics will effectively deploy a six-man rotation for the time being, writes Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Sean Manaea’s return puts him alongside Mike Fiers, Brett Anderson, Chris Bassitt, Tanner Roark and Homer Bailey in the rotation, and it seems that there’s no immediate plans to push any of that bunch into a bullpen role. Skipper Bob Melvin called the situation “fluid” and left open the possibility for a change should the need arise. The flexibility could prove particularly important in the season’s final few games, as Melvin could potentially have the ability to optimize some matchups late in the year as the A’s look to secure a Wild Card playoff berth for the second straight season.
Of that bunch, the Athletics will lose Roark, Bailey and Anderson to free agency this winter, although the team isn’t exactly short on internal replacement options. Top prospect A.J. Puk is fully recovered from Tommy John surgery, and while he’s in the bullpen for 2019, he’s expected vie for rotation gig in 2020. Righty Jharel Cotton is in a similar position, while uber-prospect Jesus Luzardo is also on the cusp of MLB readiness. Oakland, of course, also has righty Frankie Montas on the sidelines until late September due to an 80-game PED suspension, but he’ll be back in the starting mix next year.
Elsewhere in the AL West…
- Aaron Sanchez’s season-ending shoulder surgery could give the Astros a difficult decision regarding the right-hander’s future in the organization, writes Jake Kaplan of The Athletic (subscription required). The organization has yet to divulge details on what type of procedure he’ll require, but Sanchez is owed a raise on this season’s $3.9MM salary in arbitration. His lackluster season won’t make the ultimate price point too steep, so it seems worthwhile to tender Sanchez a contract so long as he’s not expected to be sidelined well into next summer, but the sudden uncertainty surrounding his outlook is an unwelcome development as the club plans for the 2020 campaign. The extent of Sanchez’s expected recovery will play a role in how aggressively the ’Stros need to pursue rotation help in the offseason; Gerrit Cole, Wade Miley and Collin McHugh are free agents, while Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke and Lance McCullers Jr. (who’ll ideally be recovered from 2018 Tommy John surgery) are all signed or controlled through at least 2021.
- The Angels’ March claim of Brian Goodwin off release waivers from the Royals may have initially been intended to find a capable stopgap for the injured Justin Upton, but the 28-year-old Goodwin looks to have played himself into the team’s plans in 2020, writes Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. “Truthfully, I thought he was going to be a filler until Upton came back,” manager Brad Ausmus admitted. “But then he just proved himself to be way too valuable. Much more than just a stop-gap player. He’s turned himself into, shoot, you could make the argument he should play more.” Goodwin, indeed, has been a boon to the Halos’ roster, hitting at a .286/.346/.507 clip with 15 home runs, 27 doubles, two triples and five steals through 380 plate appearances. He’ll be eligible for arbitration for the first time this winter and should secure the first seven-figure salary of his career. The Angels hold a club option on Kole Calhoun and will have both Upton and Mike Trout back in 2020, but Goodwin at the very least should be a fourth outfield option next season.
Goodwin is a keeper for sure. Upton, on the other hand, needs to go.
You know Upton isn’t going anywhere, right? He’s owed $21M/$23M/$28M over the next three seasons and has a full no-trade clause. His bad season makes his trade value very low, anyway. On the other hand, he isn’t as bad as he played and should return to form 2020.
Yeah I know.
Both Upton’s have historically been paid for great promise they never achieved. I can’t think of a better team to have to absorb yet another high paid under achiever than the Angels.
That is an especially weak take.
Upton posted OPS+ of 136 in the 30 games he played with the Angels following the trade, and 121 last year, with 30 HR. He suffered an especially painful injury in ST and has played only 61 games this season, playing himself into shape as the games go by.
Since this season is a lost cause, it isn’t as if he is causing the team to miss the playoffs in 2019, and every reason to expect he will return to 2018 form next year.
Montas will be in the bullpen too. It will be nice seeing him come out and pitch from the right side which A’s lack in the bullpen.
Fiers,Manaea, Montas and some combo of Puk, Luzardo,Cotton,Bassitt and some of the other A’s young guys this team could be loaded on 2020.
Always liked Goodwin as a Nats fan. Glad to see him get a regular job. He needs to steal more though, he’s got 20+ steals a year in him, with his speed.
Sanchez is yet more proof arbitration saleries should not increase per year. they should be directly proportional to your previous year’s production. if you were the best player in the league as a rookie, you should be the highest player as a sophmore.
Naw. If that was the case then pre-arb years should be as well. The process is an incentive tradeoff between players and ownership, not a logic scale.
So after reading this I have one question…what’s better…a “top” prospect or an “uber” prospect?
All food delivery responses would have previously been thumbs down.
A’s will finally see those next wave of prospects that came in the reddick/hill, sonny gray, doolittle trades which prospects have been setback by injuries. Although from the sonny gray trade, mateo and fowler dont look to be in their plans or blocked. And the donaldson trade is a lost cause,baretto hasnt gotten consistent playing or performed at mlb level. Wendleken and irwin from brett lawrie deal are both relievers
I know it sounds sordid but you’ll be rewarded when alas I’ve been given my dues.
And injustice deliciously squared…
Goodwin will probably start in RF next year until (hopefully) Adell is ready. Can’t really envision Calhoun back unless they decline his option and sign for way less.
…and then there’s the next wave of A’s pitchers: Jefferies, Holmes, Kaprielian, Dunshee, Harris, Varland…
Is Miley a candidate to be resigned by Houston?
I’d bet someone else will give him a multi-year deal, and the Astros will pick someone off the scrap heap the compete with a younger player for the rotation spot.
Sanchez has a good chance to give you $4MM worth of production as a reliever (if relatively healthy). So, seems like there’s enough of a floor not to dump him unless they know his arm is gone.
“He’s turned himself into, shoot, you could make the argument he should play more”
This is the kind of statement that really fills me with confidence regarding Ausmus’ ability to effectively manage in the majors.
Head>Desk
Ausmus’ handling of the pitching staff is the one and only reason needed to show he can’t manage. It was a lazy hire by Eppler, one that probably won’t be successful!
Ausmus was THE reason the Tigers stopped their run of dominance in the AL Central. I don’t know how he tricked someone else to give him a shot. Players underperform with him at the helm.
I wish Sosh would of waited 1 more year before he retired. It would have been perfect timing for one of his former coaches Joe Maddon to take over. If not him Giradi or Erstad.