As Christian Bethancourt packed his luggage and mentioned goodbye to teammates this weekend, it’s honest to marvel what number of A’s gamers thought they could be subsequent.
Bethancourt, who was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in a deal that introduced outfielder Cal Stevenson and right-hander Christian Fernandez to the A’s group, was the primary of a handful of regulars who may very well be on the transfer over the following few weeks.
Even when Frankie Montas’ shoulder irritation limits his commerce market, there are a selection of different A’s gamers who may catch the attention of contending golf equipment. With outfielder Ramón Laureano and catcher Sean Murphy anticipated to be mentioned in potential trades, listed here are three under-the-radar commerce candidates who may very well be on the transfer this summer time.
Sam Moll
With solely 51 video games of main league expertise, together with 32 this season getting into play on Monday, Moll is the kind of up-and-coming reliever who may very well be a key arm within the subsequent nice A’s bullpen. He’s underneath crew management by means of 2027 and has struck out 11.1 batters per 9 innings this yr, which ranks among the many sport’s elite.
So why would Oakland commerce him? At 30, Moll is already previous the “prospect” stage of his profession and whereas he’s been the A’s most dependable reliever, it’s arduous to check him making important enhancements in future seasons. Together with his commerce worth doubtless greater now than it is going to ever be sooner or later, Oakland may transfer the left-hander at this yr’s deadline to a crew in want of bullpen assist and choose up a stable prospect or two in return to assist strengthen future A’s golf equipment.
Cole Irvin
With Montas battling an harm and Daulton Jefferies out for the season, the A’s can’t actually afford to surrender a beginning pitcher. Irvin has confirmed sturdy and has posted a career-best 3.32 ERA over 15 begins, so buying and selling him now appears notably silly for a crew that would use Irvin in its rotation over the following few years.
Irvin’s title makes the listing, nonetheless, as a result of contending groups nearly at all times want beginning pitching depth. Golf equipment that gained’t need to half with the property wanted to accumulate Montas could verify in on Irvin, who most likely gained’t pitch massive innings within the postseason however can pitch five-to-six innings each 5 days to assist a crew get to October.
Tony Kemp
It hasn’t been a memorable yr for Kemp, who entered Monday with a .205 common and .549 OPS. The Vanderbilt product is a flexible defender and well-liked within the clubhouse, however his at-bats have not often produced good outcomes.
Maybe Kemp wants a change of surroundings to regain the shape he confirmed final season, when he set a career-high with an .800 OPS. Maybe the A’s would like to maneuver Kemp to provide extra taking part in time at second base to prospect Nick Allen, or one other younger infielder acquired by way of a commerce this summer time. Maybe a commerce would profit each events.