The A’s bullpen needs help, and the search may not stop with one veteran addition. With the trade deadline closing in, Oakland is more likely to target pitching depth overall than a reliever alone, but the club could still make room for a familiar name if it wants a proven late-inning arm.
One possibility is Liam Hendriks, the right-hander who spent five seasons with the A’s and established himself as one of the league’s top closers in Oakland. Now 37, Hendriks would bring more than just innings. He’d bring experience, edge and a presence the team clearly lacks in a relief group that has struggled through the middle of the season.
Manager Mark Kotsay has already pointed to the bullpen’s lack of experience, and Hendriks checks that box in a big way. He’s a 14-year MLB veteran, a 2-time Reliever of the Year and a 3-time All-Star. He last appeared in the majors last season, when he had trouble with the Boston Red Sox, though he has shown some success in limited innings with the Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate.
The fit goes beyond the résumé. Hendriks knows the organization, knows the staff and would step into a group that could use a right-handed option with some bite.
At the moment, Jose Suarez and Hogan Harris are the only arms that look dependable in the bullpen, and both are lefties. Adding Hendriks would balance things out while giving the A’s another veteran voice in the clubhouse.
The bullpen has been rough enough that the club could use Hendriks’ intensity as much as his arm. His energy on the mound has always stood out, and that kind of spark matters when a relief corps is trying to steady itself.
The A’s also added Dallas Keuchel to their Triple-A roster on Saturday, but they may not be done bringing in veterans. If they keep looking for ways to shore up an inexperienced pitching staff, Hendriks could be right there in the mix.
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On the field, the roster still looks like one that could change again before the deadline. Oakland already sent Aaron Civale to the Cubs, and the move fit the kind of sell-off that often comes when a club is balancing present needs with a bigger future plan. For fans, the uneasy part is that the baseball side and the relocation side are moving at the same time, with more decisions still ahead. [Read more 🡒]