Alex Hassan’s Merry-Go-Round Lands Him Back in Oakland

To say that this offseason has been a whirlwind for Alex Hassan would be an understatement. On Friday, Hassan was claimed from waivers for the third time in four months, and for the second time by the Oakland Athletics.

The outfielder’s career started out fairly stable, or about as stable as a minor league player’s life can be. Hassan was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2009, as a pitcher, out of Duke University in the 20th round. The team saw a lot of potential in his bat, and they switched Hassan to outfield, which is a move that may have elongated his career.

He spent the first six years of his professional career with Boston, climbing, slowly but surely, through the minor league ranks. In 2014, Hassan made his major league debut on June 1st, playing right field and going 1-3 with a single, walk and run scored. He got another chance on June 3rd, and went 0-4 with four strikeouts, racking up his first career golden sombrero. He was optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket later that week, and got just one more chance in the big leagues. Hassan went 0-1 as a pinch hitter on August 20th.

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Hassan’s numbers as a minor leaguer were much better in 2014. He played 114 games with Pawtucket, and posted a .287/.378/.426 slash-line with 31 doubles, eight home runs and 55 RBI. In 128 at-bats against left-handed pitchers , the right-handed hitting Hassan hit .328, proving he may have some value as a platoon first baseman or corner outfielder.

After the season is when things truly got weird for Hassan. On November 17th, the Athletics claimed Hassan, but placed him back on waivers just three days later to make room on the 40-man roster for Renato Nunez, a top third base prospect, in order to protect him from the Rule V Draft.

On November 20th, Hassan was claimed again, this time by the Baltimore Orioles. He was invited to big league camp with the team, and was competing for a roster spot. But on February 25th, the Orioles designated him for assignment, making room on the roster for newly-signed infielder Everth Cabrera. Two days after, the Athletics re-claimed Hassan.

In the corresponding move, the Athletics placed A.J. Griffin on the 60-day disabled list as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Griffin’s timetable for recovery doesn’t have him being ready for opening day, so this move is not necessarily notable.

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Hassan has the opportunity to make some noise and put his name in the competition for an opening day roster spot. His versatility helps his case, and his strong hitting against lefties will make him a valuable weapon. Hopefully he can stick with Oakland this time around, and be a nice piece for the Athletics.

Another waiver wire note: the Athletics claimed right-handed reliever Chad Smith from the Detroit Tigers. Smith was designated after the Tigers re-signed pitcher Joba Chamberlain. Smith pitched in 10 games for Detroit in 2014, his debut season, and posted a 5.40 ERA and 1.543 WHIP. After being drafted as a starter in 2011, Smith has since transitioned to the bullpen. In his minor league career, he owns a 2.68 ERA and 1.202 WHIP, so there is a lot of potential for a bullpen arm in Smith.

To make room for the new acquisition, the Athletics placed right-hander Taylor Thompson (another waiver claim from earlier this offseason) on the 60-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder.