A’s have a rich history of losing their star closers
The Oakland A’s have a knack for identifying closers. Some of their best in history came from the unlikeliest places — from corners of their farm system as converted position players, converted starters on other teams, rookies fresh off their call-ups and scrap heap pitchers who needed a little polish and confidence.
Many a legendary and surprise closer shut games down for the Green and Gold in history: Dennis Eckersley, Jason Isringhausen, Huston Street, Brad Ziegler, Andrew Bailey, Ryan Cook, Grant Balfour, Sean Doolittle, and Liam Hendriks.
Hendriks, the latest, went from being designated for assignment in 2018 to Reliever of the Year in 2020. And, like most other star players in A’s history, he’s on his way out. Oakland, true to form, already has a short list of arms they’re envisioning as their next closer to take Hendriks’ spot. Here’s how some other legendary closers left — and who followed.
JASON ISRINGHAUSEN » Irginhausen’s rise as one of the game’s best relievers went through a stint as one of the New York Mets’ most promising starter prospects in the ’90s. But Oakland embraced him as a reliever, where he emerged as one of the best in the early 2000s. After getting traded to the A’s from New York in 1999, he recorded 75 saves with 151 strikeouts in 165.2 innings. His last games with the Oakland A’s mirrored Hendriks’: He recorded two saves in the A’s eventual ALDS loss to the Yankees in 2001.
The A’s couldn’t afford to keep the rising star, a free agent after their postseason letdown. Irginhausen signed a $27 million,
four-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. The A’s traded for closer Billy Koch that offseason from the Toronto Blue Jays for Eric Hinske and Justin Miller. Koch recorded 44 saves in 79 appearances, but gave up the game-deciding home run to the Minnesota Twins’ A.J. Pierzynski, leading to another early-round exit. Koch was traded that offseason. HUSTON STREET » Huston Street won Rookie of the Year in 2005 with the A’s and was their closer for Oakland’s 2006 run — the last time the A’s made it to the ALCS. It was a trip that ended with Street giving up a Detroit Tigers three-run walk-off home run that sealed the series.
Street had a strong career with the A’s that yielded 94 saves and 271 strikeouts over four seasons. But injuries bogged him down in 2008 and he lost his closer job to Brad Ziegler, who tossed 23 scoreless innings to start his big league career. The A’s traded Street that offseason to the Colorado Rockies for outfielder Matt Holliday.
GRANT BALFOUR » Balfour, another Australian closer, came to the A’s on a reasonable free-agent deal in 2012, signing a two-year, $8 million contract to come to Oakland with an exercised club option for 2013. He made all those years count, putting up a 2.53 ERA with 64 saves in 199 innings over those three seasons — that included an All-Star nod in 2013 and a 44-save streak. SEAN DOOLITTLE » The A’s converted the outfielder and first baseman into an All-Star closer over his six seasons in Oakland. He was a fan favorite, traded to the Washington Nationals for Blake Treinen, Sheldon Neuse, and Jesús Luzardo in 2017.
BLAKE TREINEN » Oakland received Treinen from Washington in the Doolittle deal and slotted him in immediately as the closer. He dazzled with his wicked sinker and put together an astonishing 0.78 ERA in 2018. But he struggled with injury in 2019, putting together a 4.91 ERA in 57 games. The A’s didn’t tender him a contract in the 2020 offseason, allowing the Los Angeles Dodgers to swoop him up — Treinen went on to win a World Series title with them last season.
The A’s didn’t necessarily need to spend on Treinen, who commanded a oneyear, $10 million contract.
They already had Hendriks on the rise. What’s next for the A’s? Oakland is likely to look at outside options — via trade or free agency — to bolster the bullpen if Yusmeiro Petit, T.J. McFarland and Joakim Soria depart but probably won’t be out seeking a closer.
The A’s have in-house options who can slide into that role, as we wrote about here.