The Athletics have signed right-handed reliever Deolis Guerra to a minor league contract and invited him to Major League Spring Training, the team announced.
Guerra, 32 in April, put up decent numbers with the Angels back in 2016-17 — 78 1/3 innings, 3.68 ERA, 17.8 percent strikeout rate, 5.8 percent walk rate — but he’s received few opportunities in the big leagues since that time. He spent the 2018 season with the Rangers and pitched well in Triple-A but didn’t get a call to the Majors. He was hit hard in a combined 10 games between the Brewers and Phillies in 2019-20.
Overall, Guerra owns a lackluster 4.81 ERA in 103 Major League innings, though his 3.94 SIERA is a bit more promising. His career 18.8 percent strikeout rate is noticeably south of the MLB average at this point, but his career 5.4 percent walk rate is better than average as well. Guerra has appeared in parts of eight Triple-A seasons and pitched to a strong 3.36 ERA through 343 frames there, carrying a much stronger strikeout rate (26.8 percent) with a slightly higher walk rate (6.9 percent) than he’s had in the big leagues.
Given the turnover in the Oakland bullpen, Guerra could have an opportunity to win a spot this spring. Closer Liam Hendriks has already signed with the White Sox, while each of Yusmeiro Petit, Joakim Soria and T.J. McFarland are free agents.
DarkSide830
Kendall Hinton is a better QB then this guy is a pitcher
Deadguy
With the amount of turn over it looks like they’d take Rich Gannon at this point
Marty McRae
Gannon would cost too much, they only are interested in minimum wage AAAA types who will be awful, causing them to lose games, instead of signing MLB pitchers who will help them win games.
Same team had a red-hot Canha and Pinder (both plus defenders at 1B) but chose to bench them in favor of a completely washed up Kendrys Morales (absolutely terrible defensively). They went from the smartest front office to by far the dumbest in MLB, probably because the billionaire owner wont pay anyone to stay, including front office personnel.
LordD99
He’s had a HR problem.
WazzaRoon10
People forget this guy was in the Johan Santana trade. Carlos Gomez, Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra
PeteWard8
WazzaRoon10 yes interesting. Was a teenager at the time and seven years later made it to the Bigs.
Richs
Nats please sign Marwin Gonzales asap. We need additional player at 3b in case Kiebloom does not hit or field.
We already have 2 weak spots in order catcher Gomes and Alvia plus pitcher and cant have anymore.
erauber
I’m sure the Nats read the comments on an Athletics minor league signing post
nentwigs
Final remnant of the booty received by the Twins for Johan Santana….
tiger68
I would love to see Sofia back in the old English D. He could provided much needed mentoring to a young staff.
jessaumodesto
Woohoo! How did we keep him away from the big market clubs!!!?
KermitJagger
Crazy this guy is still bouncing around six years after coming up with the Buccos. Then again, not surprising he’s had success after leaving given how bad our pitching coaching was back then.
angt222
Shrewd move by Oakland.
Marty McRae
Ah yes, replacing 4 MLB-quality players with 4 AAAA players, once again another “shrewd” move by the cheapest team with the richest owner in MLB.
FloridaMan1988
He pitched in 9 games last season with PHL and he lost 3 of them.
Asfan0780
All A’s need is a starting caliber shortstop for at least 1 year and a couple dependable bullpen pieces, but the cheap owner couldn’t even do that. Doolittle signed for 1.5 mill, wisler, Middleton, etc. for around 1 mill. There were bargains to be had but they passed
jyosuckas
Remember when he was traded from the Mets in the Johan Santana trade 16 years ago? Can’t believe he’s still kicking around