Five Trade Targets For The Oakland Athletics

The Oakland A’s are a sneeze’s distance from both wild card spots and they can fantasize about taking the division if everything breaks right (and Justin Verlander quits baseball to focus on the bassoon). They are buyers at the trade deadline, but it’s also likely they won’t cash in any blue chip prospects or take on a lot of salary. Those big splashes are few and far between in Oakland. That means it’s not worth too much of your mental energy imagining Marcus Stroman, Will Smith or Zack Wheeler playing for Oakland. It could happen, sure, but the more likely targets are one tier down.

Dyson doesn’t get a lot of notice as the second or third best reliever on a lackluster team, but he has quietly had an excellent season. His 2.30 ERA is mostly backed up by his FIP (2.92) and xFIP (3.25), especially when we factor in that relievers often beat their peripherals. He has been incredibly stingy with walks this season, issuing only six free passes in 43 innings. He also suppresses home runs by running a high groundball rate. That trait would fit the Oakland A’s especially well, because they possess one of the best infield defenses in baseball. Any team could use an extra arm, but with Lou Trivino and Blake Treinen both still feeling around for their 2018 form, the A’s would love an effective, groundball heavy reliever.

Ever since Frankie Montas was suspended for the remainder of the season, the hope that the A’s could manage this season with the pitching they have in house has been dubious — all the more so since Jesus Luzardo suffered a lat strain. While the A’s would love to add someone like Madison Bumgarner, he’s likely to be priced out of their range. Instead, they might look to an adequate innings eater who can, like every other A’s starting pitcher, usually do enough to keep the game competitive for five or six innings.

Lyles is likely the preferred one of these two. He has strikeout stuff and the A’s would only be on the hook for around a million dollars. Leake has experienced some homeritis this season, but if the A’s think that’s temporary or fixable, they might see if the division rival Mariners would cover a big chunk of the roughly $24 million Leake is owed through 2020. Both offer steady production with a mid-4s ERA with upside for a little better than that.

The A’s have been quite good against left-handed pitching, but they could use a boost against righties. Dietrich is dynamite from the left side (137 wRC+ against righties) and can play anywhere the A’s might need him. He’s next to useless against lefties (29 wRC+ this season), but that might limit his trade value to a point that Oakland could scoop him up. The Reds will likely wait until close to the deadline to see if they’re in contention, but if they fall in the standings, Dietrich could be an excellent weapon for them.

You could swap in Terrance Gore, Kevin Pillar or any other light-hitting speed demon. You trade for one of these players to pinch run and play defense (though Pillar can hit a little). There is no good reason Hamilton would ever pick up a bat in a close game, but the A’s don’t have a player, other than perhaps Ramon Laureano, who can change a game with his legs. If the front office sees an available roster spot for a specialty player, the A’s could add some cheap speed and defense.

Source: Forbes.com

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