Reliever Pagan glad to join young roster
Reliever Emilio Pagan is a little too familiar with his new team’s core group of young players. He watched the A’s top prospects thump opponents year after year in the minor leagues.
“There are a lot of terrific players there,” Pagan said by phone Thursday from his home in North Carolina, a day after being acquired from the Mariners. “I watched all of those guys win a lot of games the whole way up. I’m really excited to win with them in the future.”
The right-hander, 26, was dealt to Oakland on Wednesday, along with 17-year-old shortstop Alexander Campos, in exchange for designated hitter/infielder Ryon Healy, who turns 26 in January. Healy, part of that A’s young core, took the trade in stride, saying the opportunity to go back to playing in the field — Seattle will use him at first base — was “definitely a positive point.”
Bolstering the bullpen is a priority for the A’s this winter, and Pagan showed a great deal of promise in his rookie season, particularly when it came to throwing strikes. He struck out 56 and walked just eight in 501⁄3 innings. He describes himself as “aggressive” with his fastball and confident in his slider, with a changeup he believes could be effective against lefthanded hitters.
Manager Bob Melvin called Pagan “an exciting arm. Low walks, high strikeouts, not many hits — attributes you look for.”
One American League scout said Pagan profiles as a solid setup man. “He has a sneaky fastball that is set up by fear of a good slider,” the scout said. “He’s willing to pound the zone and attack . ... His ability to locate to weak spots creates his swing and miss.”
A’s outfielder Boog Powell played with Pagan for two years in Seattle’s organization and said they became good friends last year. “I always loved playing center field behind him, because Emilio locates the ball so well and he throws hard,” Powell said. “He should fit right in with us.”
Briefly: Powell has fully recovered from the bone bruise on his left knee that ended his season. An MRI exam performed two weeks ago showed no swelling, and Powell began his usual offseason workouts Monday . ... The competitive-balance round for next year’s draft was set, and the A’s will have the 71st overall pick. Oakland also has the ninth pick in the first round.