Oakland Athletics: What positions should the team target at the trade deadline?

1. Relief Pitcher

The A’s were pleasantly surprised with the outstanding one-two punch that they received fromLou TrivinoandBlake Treinenlast season. But this year, that one-two punch has been less effective than the “1, 2 Step.”

Sorry, Ciara.

Treinen has struggled with injuries and inconsistent play and has even been stripped of the closer role while Trivino has dealt with his fair share of mechanical issues and has seen his ERA balloon to over 4.20.

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In their place, a new surprise face has risen through the ranks and become the A’s shutdown reliever. That pitcher is none-other than first-time All-StarLiam Hendriks.

Hendriks has been one of the few reliable pieces in a shaky A’s bullpen but the team is hoping that they’ve finally found their answer in the ninth inning with the Australian Hendriks. But that doesn’t change the fact that they still need help around him.

There is no greater need for the A’s this July than their bullpen and fortunately, there should be no shortage of available targets. Miami’sSergio Romocould make for an intriguing candidate to bring back to the Bay Area while Chicago’sAlex Colomecould be another great option.

The Athletics could also look across the Bay to the San Francisco Giants and make a move for closerWill Smithwho despite a rough couple of outings recently had been dominant in the first half.

If you’re betting on the A’s making a move in any area, it seems likely that it will be to upgrade their bullpen. And given the team’s evident weakness at that spot, it’s probably for the best.

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