With the trade deadline creeping closer and the Athletics hanging around the Wild Card picture, the bullpen is the obvious place to start if they want to make a real push. The rotation has already taken a beating, with ace Luis Severino landing on the IL after his start against the Yankees and missing the entire month of June. Aaron Civale is back, and even though his first outing after returning was shaky, the A’s can at least hope he steadies the staff and brings some veteran stability with him.
If the A’s decide to buy in a weak American League, one name from the New York Mets could fit the bill: Brooks Raley.
The Mets have stumbled badly in their 2026 season and, barring a major shift, look like sellers. Because of their market, they’re expected to keep most of their biggest names, but there are still trade pieces available.
Left-hander Brooks Raley stands out as one of them. He has posted a 2.32 ERA in 31 innings this season, and any club looking for a reliable southpaw out of the bullpen should have him on the radar.
Raley also checks a few boxes that matter for Oakland. He’s 38, just like Aroldis Chapman, another possible fit who would likely cost more in young talent.
Raley is also headed for free agency after the season, which should keep the price tag from getting out of hand. If the Mets are trying to extract value before the deadline, the A’s could be in position to capitalize.
The fit makes sense on the roster side, too. Assuming Jose Suarez comes back from the paternity list for the Marlins series on Friday, the A’s bullpen would have three left-handers.
Hogan Harris was recently promoted, and Matt Krook was recently DFA’d. Mark Kotsay has leaned into lefty-lefty matchups during his time as manager, so adding another proven southpaw would give him more flexibility in late-game situations.
The bigger issue is that the relief corps needs help beyond one arm. Mark Leiter Jr. had just started to find his rhythm before going on the Injured List.
Scott Barlow was DFA’d. Elvis Alvarado flashed promise, even picking up his first career save, but he has also been inconsistent.
So while one trade won’t fix everything, a low-cost addition like Raley could give the A’s a real boost as they try to chase October baseball for the first time since 2020.
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