Oakland Athletics Solidify Pitching Depth With Two Big Trades

The Oakland Athletics have acquired some pitching help for the stretch run with a couple of big time trades.

Oakland Athletics‘ general manager, David Forst and VP of baseball operations, Billy Beane haven’t let the non-waiver trade deadline stop them from improving their club.

Over the past two days, Forst and Beane have acquired relief pitcher Shawn Kelley and starter Mike Fiers to help solidify their pitching down the stretch of the regular season.

The Oakland Athletics (67-46) are looking to make their first appearance in the postseason since 2014. They currently hold the second Wild Card spot with a two-game edge over the Seattle Mariners and trail the Houston Astros by only four and a half games for the top spot in the AL West.

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In an effort to hold their Wild Card lead, Forst and Beane finally made a move to get their guy Mike Fiers from Detroit on Monday afternoon.

Fiers drew interest from multiple clubs as the trade deadline approached, but the A’s were reported to make the biggest push. But by the time the deadline came and went, no deal was agreed upon, and the Tigers put Fiers on waivers.

It didn’t take long for the A’s to claim Fiers and now, the 33-year old right-hander joins a starting rotation that has really been plagued by injuries all season long. Fiers is 7-6 with a 3.48 ERA in 119 innings pitched and held opposing hitters to a .256 batting average.

Perhaps, what drew Forst and Beane to Fiers are his improvements over his past seven starts where he’s pitched 41 1/3 innings and only allowed nine earned runs — which translates to a 1.97 ERA.

Fiers will round out the starting rotation for Bob Melvin and is expected to make his Oakland debut on Wednesday night against Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers.

Fiers wasn’t the only move the Oakland front office made after the deadline though, as the club also acquired bullpen help by trading for right-hander Shawn Kelley from Washington.

Kelley had been designated for assignment by the Nationals last week after his controversial action of slamming his glove after allowing a home run to the Mets when the Nats were leading 25-4.

Regardless of Kelley’s minor tantrum, he brings a solid bullpen presence to round out the A’s bullpen.

Kelley has a 3.34 ERA in over 32 innings pitched and had maintained nearly a strikeout per nine ratios (8.91K/9) throughout the season. Kelley holds right-handed hitters to a .207 average this season and has respectable 27 percent ground ball rate to go along with a 0.96 WHIP.

As most moves that happen after the deadline, the full trade details aren’t fully released after completion of the deal. But it’s reported that the A’s gave up either cash considerations or two players to be named later in the Fiers deal, and gave up international slot money for Kelley.

The deals aren’t likely to set the baseball world on fire, but they’re moves that the club needed to make as they try to end their three-year postseason drought.

Fiers has been pitching very well as of late and should fill in nicely behind Sean Manaea and Trevor Cahill.

The addition of Shawn Kelley gives Melvin another veteran right-hander to add to the back end of the bullpen. It would have been great to see Forst and Beane bring in a left-handed reliever given that Ryan Buchter is the only southpaw currently coming out of the pen, but lefty relievers are always in high demand.

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Right now is the time for Oakland to make their push if they are to give themselves a shot at winning the division. The Astros are severely depleted without their star players Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, and George Springer.

These moves couldn’t have come at a more significant time for Oakland as they get ready to go on a stretch where 19 of their next 25 games will be played against divisional opponents.

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