Yusmeiro Petit Signs Two-Year Deal to Join the Oakland A’s

With free agency at a standstill, Yusmeiro Petit broke the monotony by signing a two-year deal to join a young Oakland A’s pitching staff.

Finally, there’s a little movement in the free agent market. With the hot stove flame barely staying lit as Giancarlo Stanton holds the market hostage, any free agency action is welcome. This isn’t a move that will set the stove on fire, but the Oakland Athletics got themselves a solid reliever by signing Yusmeiro Petit to a two-year, $10 million deal.

The 33-year-old righty just finished his 10th season in the MLB, and in his first season with the Los Angeles Angels, had his best season yet. But, he made his first big impact in the big leagues across the bay with the San Francisco Giants.

From 2006 to 2009, Petit played a season with the then-Florida Marlins and three more with the Arizona Diamondbacks, bouncing back and forth between the major and minor leagues, and from the rotation to the bullpen. After a two-year hiatus from the MLB, he returned in 2012 with the San Francisco Giants when he made one spot start. Next season began Petit’s transformation into usable and serviceable swingman in the orange and black.

Petit’s first brush with history came on September 6th, 2013, when he was again thrust into a spot start for the Giants. Petit dazzled his former team, the Diamondbacks, retiring 26 consecutive batters to start the game before Eric Chavez (Oakland A’s legend) dumped a single in front of Hunter Pence to break up the perfect game. Petit would finish the outing, earning his first big league complete game and shutout on only 95 pitches.

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He was back with the Giants again in 2014, splitting time between the bullpen and rotation in what would be his first complete season as a big leaguer. He had a very nice season, but had his biggest moment in October. In the fabled 18-inning game between the Giants and Washington Nationals, Petit threw six sparkling innings of relief, allowing just one hit and three walks while striking out seven and keeping the game tied. He earned a win for his stellar effort when Brandon Belt hit his home run in the top of the 18th.

Petit put together another solid season in 2015, but was non-tendered after the season and signed a deal with the Nationals. He became a free agent again after the season, and he would sign with the Angels. In Los Angeles, Petit enjoyed his best season yet. He was used almost strictly as a reliever (he made one start in 60 appearances), and pitched to a 2.76 ERA, 2.85 FIP, and 0.953 WHIP, while striking out 10 batters per nine innings and walking less than two in over 90 innings.

Now with Oakland, Petit will become one of the elder statesmen on a quite young pitching staff, and rejoin a former Giant teammate in Santiago Casilla. Among the relatively inexperienced staff, Petit can be slotted into just about any role the Athletics need him to take on, and he has shown that he will flourish in that role. Whether it’s mop-up duty, middle relief, set-up man, long reliever, or swingman, Petit will be up to the task.

Next: Andrew Triggs; The A's Bargain Bin Gem

Already a popular figure across the Golden Gate Bridge for his exploits with the Giants, Petit now has the chance to make his name at the Coliseum.