The Athletics could use Miller as a closer in 2024, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
General manager David Forst mentioned using Miller out of the bullpen to start the 2024 campaign citing the flamethrower's prior health issues. The right-hander dealt with a UCL sprain in his elbow last season, which forced him to miss the majority of the year. Forst stated that the club would like to see Miller get through an entire season before thinking about building him back up as a starter, per Gallegos.
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Athletics' Ken Waldichuk: Diagnosed with UCL, flexor damage
Rotowire
Waldichuk underwent a Tenex procedure on Oct. 17 and received a PRP injection on Oct. 24 after being diagnosed with a left UCL sprain and flexor strain.
Waldichuk felt discomfort in his pitching elbow following his final start of the season back on Sept. 29 and an MRI and doctor visit revealed the bad news. The left-hander has opted for a conservative treatment rather than Tommy John surgery, with the minimally invasive Tenex procedure designed to remove scar tissue, and the PRP injection aimed to promote healing. Waldichuk is currently limited to physical therapy, and his timeline for a throwing program is up in the air.
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Athletics' Armando Alvarez: Gets minors deal from Oakland
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Oakland signed Alvarez to a minor-league contract Wednesday with an invitation to major-league spring training.
Alvarez is 29 years old and has yet to reach the MLB level, but he put up an impressive .308/.379/.581 batting line with 18 homers and eight steals over 74 games this past season with the Triple-A affiliate of the Giants. He has mostly played third base and first base on the farm.
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Athletics' Drew Lugbauer: Signs minors contract with A's
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Lugbauer signed a minor-league contract Wednesday with the Athletics.
The agreement includes an invitation to the major-league side of spring training. Lugbauer, 27, posted an .898 OPS with 25 home runs and 73 RBI over 96 games this past year in Atlanta's minor-league system, finishing up at Triple-A Gwinnett. He could get his first taste of MLB action at some point during the 2024 campaign given the A's glaring need for power production.
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Athletics' Hoy Park: Nabs MiLB deal from Oakland
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Park signed a minor-league deal with the Athletics on Nov. 20.
Park has previously seen action in 68 games in the majors with the Yankees and Pirates but spent the 2023 season exclusively at the Triple-A level in Atlanta's organization. Over 384 plate appearances with Gwinnett, Park slashed .262/.385/.379 with six home run and 17 stolen base. Park could have a better chance to resurface in the majors with an Athletics squad coming off a 112-loss season, but he's still more likely to open the 2024 campaign at Triple-A Las Vegas.
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Athletics' Osvaldo Bido: Strikes deal with Oakland
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Bido agreed to a major-league deal with the Athletics on Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
After being non-tendered by Pittsburgh on Friday, Bido quickly recaptured a 40-man roster spot with another organization in rebuilding mode. The 28-year-old right-hander reached the majors for the first time in 2023, going 2-5 with a 5.86 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 48:21 K:BB over 50.2 innings spanning 16 appearances (nine starts) with the Pirates. Bido has two minor-league options remaining, so if he falls short in his bid for an Opening Day roster spot with the Athletics, he'll provide rotation depth at the Triple-A level.
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Athletics' Abraham Toro: Inks one-year pact
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Toro signed a one-year contract with the Athletics on Friday.
Toro was traded from Milwaukee to Oakland on Wednesday, and he's now in a position to compete for a starting infield job after spending most of last season with Triple-A Nashville, where he slashed .291/.374/.471 over 96 contests.
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Athletics' Miguel Andujar: Signs one-year deal
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Andujar signed a one-year contract with the Athletics on Friday.
Andujar was claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh on Monday, and he'll get a chance to revive his career by competing for a spot on what projects to be a relatively weak Athletics roster. Andujar batted .250 (21-for-84) with four homers and 18 RBI in 30 games last season.
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Athletics' Michael Kelly: Claimed by Oakland
Rotowire
The Athletics claimed Kelly off waivers from the Guardians on Friday.
Kelly was designated for assignment by the Guardians on Tuesday. The 31-year-old right-hander posted a 3.78 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 16.2 major-league innings in 2023 and should be a strong consideration for the Opening Day bullpen in Oakland next spring.
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Athletics' Daz Cameron: Signs minors pact
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Cameron signed a minor-league contract with the Athletics on Friday.
A former prospect of note with the Astros and the Tigers, Cameron is now on his fourth organization after spending all of last season with Baltimore's Triple-A affiliate. Oakland is a good landing spot for a player like Cameron, as there could be at-bats up for grabs. He slashed .268/.346/.452 with 16 home runs and 23 steals in 110 games at Triple-A last year and turns 27 in January.
The Brewers traded Toro to Oakland on Wednesday in exchange for Chad Patrick, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Toro slashed .291/.374/.471 across 414 plate appearances at Triple-A Nashville last season, and he made the most of his limited opportunities in the majors by going 8-for-18 with two homers and nine RBI. Toro's switch-hitting bat and ability to cover every base could go a long way when competing for a spot on the Athletics' Opening Day roster.
Athletics' Brady Basso: Gets spot on 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Athletics selected Basso's contract from Double-A Midland on Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Basso, 26, posted a 2.42 ERA and 64:15 K:BB over 63.1 innings between High-A Lansing and Midland this season. The lefty-swinging backstop is now on the 40-man roster and kept away from the Rule 5 Draft.
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Athletics' Royber Salinas: Added to 40-man roster
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The Athletics selected Salinas to their 40-man roster Tuesday.
Salinas registered an underwhelming 5.48 ERA over 67.1 innings this past season with Double-A Midland, but he has racked up 372 strikeouts in 253 career minor-league frames. The 22-year-old right-hander is now protected from being plucked away from the A's in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.
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Athletics' Darell Hernaiz: Selected to 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Athletics selected Hernaiz to their 40-man roster Tuesday.
Hernaiz was acquired from the Orioles last winter as part of the Cole Irvin trade and went on to post an encouraging .321/.386/.456 batting line with nine homers and five steals in 131 games this past season between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Las Vegas. The 22-year-old infielder is now protected from selection in next month's Rule 5 Draft and could make his MLB debut in early 2024.
Pozo signed a minor-league contract with the Athletics on Saturday, Matt Eddy of Baseball America reports.
Pozo spent all of last season with Triple-A Las Vegas and put together a solid campaign, slashing .306/.338/.523 with 18 homers and 81 RBI. The 26-year-old backstop isn't listed on Oakland's 40-man roster, but Pozo could work his way back into the majors if he keeps hitting and Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom continue to struggle in the bigs.
