The Athletics’ second-half start has made one thing plain: the bullpen needs help, and it needs it fast.
Pitching has been the club’s biggest issue all season, with the rotation drawing most of the blame. There has been some improvement there lately, especially from Jacob Lopez and Jack Perkins.
But the games since the break have pointed to a different problem. Right now, it’s the relief corps that’s been costing the A’s.
Jose Suarez has been at the center of it. For a stretch, he looked like one of the team’s most reliable relievers, maybe even the best one.
That picture has changed quickly in the Red Sox series. In Game 1, he gave up the grand slam that decided the game.
Then in Wednesday’s loss, he allowed a two-run homer in the top of the 10th.
The numbers since the break back up the concern. Suarez has posted a 7.50 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP and has given up three home runs. That stands out even though the A’s have also gotten solid work from other arms, including Brady Basso, Hayden Juenger, Hogan Harris, and Luis Medina.
The timing makes the situation tougher. The Athletics are 45-63 and 10 games out of first in the A.L.
West, and with the deadline arriving within the next week, a major move looks unlikely. Their two biggest trade pieces, Shea Langeliers and Jonah Heim, are also off the table.
There also doesn’t appear to be much help waiting in Triple-A Las Vegas. If there were, those arms would probably already be in Oakland. James Gonzalez is one name that could still push his way into the picture, though July has been rough on him as well, with a 5.27 ERA and 1.61 WHIP.
Suarez is likely to stay with the club, but his workload figures to shrink. With Juenger settling in and Basso pitching extremely well, there just aren’t many spots where Suarez looks like the best option. The addition of Scott Blewett, a new reliever expected to make his Athletics debut soon, only strengthens that view.
No one is writing Suarez off. The hope is still that he can straighten things out. But after two losses have landed squarely on his ledger, the A’s may have no choice but to give him fewer innings going forward.
In Other News...
A's Fans May Not Like Why Tommy White's Name Is Emerging
With the trade deadline approaching, the Athletics are trying to thread a difficult needle: stay in the race without tearing apart a roster that has shown enough life to justify a push. They already moved Aaron Civale to the Cubs and got Jacob Lopez back into the rotation, but the bigger issue remains the same. Pitching is still the priority, and that has put a spotlight on one of the clubs newest and most promising bats.
Tommy White has made a strong first impression since his call-up, hitting well and holding his own defensively while the As sort through a crowded infield picture. His rise has also made him a name other clubs could ask about before Mondays deadline, which is exactly the sort of attention Oakland would prefer to avoid if it can help it. Still, when a team needs arms and has a young hitter building value fast, those conversations tend to follow. [Read more 🡒]
As Trade Deadline Could Force Another Painful Choice
The Athletics are heading toward the trade deadline with the kind of roster that rarely creates a splash, but still leaves a few uncomfortable decisions on the table. With limited assets to move, the front office is expected to focus on veterans on expiring deals and a handful of bullpen arms that could draw interest from clubs looking for relief help.
The bigger question is how far Oakland is willing to go in trimming the pitching staff, especially if a deal can turn a short-term arm into something useful for the future. Significant trades do not appear likely, but the As could still make one or two smaller moves that reshape the bullpen and quietly signal how they view the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]