The Oakland A’s continued their quiet but deliberate bullpen rebuild on Thursday, adding another arm to the mix with the signing of right-handed reliever Joel Kuhnel to a minor league deal. It marks the sixth such signing of the offseason, as the club looks to build depth and competition heading into spring training.
Kuhnel isn’t a mystery box - fans have seen him at the big league level before, and the results have been a mixed bag. He’s logged time across five MLB seasons, appearing in 82 games for three different teams.
His most extensive action came in 2022 with the Cincinnati Reds, when he pitched in 53 games but struggled to a 6.36 ERA. His career mark sits at 5.89, so the numbers don’t exactly jump off the page.
But this is where it gets interesting.
Despite the less-than-stellar stat line, Kuhnel brings a couple of traits that could play well in the A’s current environment. He features a big fastball and a heavy sinker - a combo that, when working, keeps the ball on the ground. That’s a valuable skill set, especially with the A’s now calling West Sacramento home, a ballpark that’s expected to play more hitter-friendly than the Coliseum did.
Groundball pitchers can be sneaky assets in those conditions. If Kuhnel can use that sinker to induce weak contact and keep the ball out of the air, he could carve out a role in the bullpen.
He’s also out of minor league options, which adds a layer of urgency to his spring. If the A’s want to keep him, he’ll need to make the Opening Day roster - otherwise, he can reject a demotion to Triple-A.
That gives him a real shot in camp. If he shows up in March throwing strikes, keeping the ball down, and letting his infielders do the work, he’s got a pathway to the bullpen. It’s not flashy, but it’s the kind of under-the-radar signing that can pay off if things click.
Meanwhile, the broader reliever market continues to thin out. One of the top remaining free agent bullpen arms, Shawn Armstrong, came off the board late Thursday night. The veteran right-hander, who had expressed interest in staying with the Texas Rangers, instead signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Cleveland Guardians - a bargain for a proven late-inning option.
For the A’s, that’s another name off the board, and the options still available in free agency are dwindling fast. At this point, if Oakland wants to make a significant bullpen upgrade, they may need to explore the trade market.
As things stand, the A’s are betting on depth, competition, and maybe a surprise or two out of camp. Kuhnel’s signing fits that mold - a low-risk move with potential upside if the pieces fall into place.
Spring training can't come soon enough.