Sept. 14: The Athletics announced that they’ve signed Lamb to a Major League contract after he’d become a free agent (i.e. cleared release waivers). Lefty A.J. Puk, who is slated to undergo shoulder surgery, was moved to the 45-day injured list to open a roster spot. Oakland also placed Frankie Montas on the paternity list and added righty James Kaprielian as the 29th man for today’s doubleheader.
Sept. 13: The A’s are set to sign corner infielder Jake Lamb, as first reported last night by Shayna Rubin of the San Jose Mercury News (Twitter link). The Diamondbacks designated Lamb for assignment on Thursday.
The left-handed hitter isn’t officially eligible to sign until Monday, Rubin adds; presumably, he’s still on release waivers, although it’s a lock he’ll clear them since any team that claims him would absorb what remains of Lamb’s prorated $5.515MM contract. By waiting until he clears waivers, the A’s will leave the Arizona organization on the hook for all but the prorated portion of the league minimum salary. As Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle points out (on Twitter), Lamb’s deal should be finalized before Tuesday’s deadline for players to be eligible for a new team’s playoff roster.
Lamb came up as a third baseman, but he saw an increasing amount of time at first base in his final couple seasons in the desert. The A’s have Matt Olson locked in at first, so Lamb’s path to playing time in Oakland is surely back at the hot corner. The A’s just found out yesterday that star third baseman Matt Chapman was lost for the season. With Chapman out, Rule V pick Vimael Machin and veteran utilityman Chad Pinder have taken most of the third base work over the past week. Neither Machin nor Pinder has hit well this season, though, so the A’s are adding another bat to the mix. Additionally, Pinder also seems ticketed for the injured list after getting scratched from yesterday’s lineup with a hamstring strain.
Of course, that Lamb was designated for assignment this week speaks to his own recent struggles. While he once looked like a building block for the Arizona organization, the 29-year-old has never returned to form after a 2018 shoulder injury that eventually required surgery. Over the past three seasons, Lamb has combined for a paltry .199/.307/.330 line (73 wRC+) in 514 plate appearances. He’s continued to draw his fair share of walks, but the power he showed from 2016-17, when he combined for 59 home runs, has evaporated. Lamb has just 12 long balls over the past three seasons. He was off to the worst start of his career before the Diamondbacks moved on, hitting .116/.240/.140 in 50 plate appearances.
Lamb will be a free agent at season’s end, so he’s a short-term stopgap for the A’s. Oakland has a 40-man roster spot available already, and further space can be cleared by placing Chapman on the 45-day injured list.
Lets Go DBacks
Good luck with that.
stollcm
Nice picture
jrussell92024
Bahahahaha
uvmfiji
Beane loves those all or nothing power bats
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
If it gets him to the postseason, why not? They might not go past the first round, but it makes them perenial contenders. Great pitching and defense combined with hitters who hit a ton of dingers with low batting averages. Cheap investment but results in a lot of runs.
Dutch Vander Linde
Imagine if a team like the Angels or Mariners picks him up on waivers after finding out he’s planning to sign with the A’s just to stick it to them.
tim815
Imagine owners decided to allow more than 60 players to practice every day to get their entire top 20 prospects better for two months.
But, they’d have had to have spent money, so it wouldn’t happen. Same sort of thing.
Michael Chaney
If another team did that, they’d probably be doing the A’s a favor. Even if he hits well down the stretch, they’d still be absorbing the rest of his salary instead of getting him for the minimum.
darkstar61
He’s hitting .116/.240/.140/.380
If another team does it, they’d be hurting themselves both competitively and financially just to keep the As from adding a desperate experiment unlikely to succeed.
Why would someone do that?
carlote
Another League, who knows, maybe he can rebound from his poor start
aj90
His poor start has lasted 3 years.
leolujan77
He’s gonna rebound he’s to talented
bradthebluefish
Praying the A’s catch lightning in a bottle.
bkwalker510
goes to show what the A’s think of Neuse. just trade him this off season Beane
DarkSide830
yeah shocked they wolnt give Neuse a chance, even as a bench bat
dave frost nhlpa
While you pile on the guy,anyone want Gary Sanchez? That’s what I thought.
Oldschoolandthemets1980
Sanchez problems is not talent or ability it’s in his head. He takes his at bats to the field and catching miscues to the plate with him. He needs a change of scenery and someone to get in his head. I mean hell I’d take him on the Mets so much better than what we have at Catcher lol.
jessaumodesto
He Sucks but usually the type of guy we trade our top prospect for.
angt222
If he turns back the clock to 2017, the A’s might have a replacement for Davis at DH for 2021.
Lets Go DBacks
Not if you get September 2017 Lamb.
Oldschoolandthemets1980
MR 247 Davis lol
Scutarointherain
Let’s see who does better, Lamb or Panda.
phillyoakman
Looking pretty good now, isn’t he?