Bailey brought in to help stabilize rotation
OAKLAND >> With the slow returns of Jesus Luzardo, Sean Manaea and Jharel Cotton to the big leagues — and Frankie Montas’ suspension — the A’s decided to act fast in the starting pitching market.
General manager Dave Forst made the call to Kansas City last week and Sunday morning both teams pulled the trigger: the A’s acquired 33-year-old righthanded starter Homer Bailey (7-6, 4.80) for 23-yearold minor league infielder Kevin Merrell, who was playing in Double-A Midland.
“With a starting pitcher, the earlier you act the more shots you get at one,” Forst said. “In fact, he was out in the bullpen with Kansas City (today), so to pull him from a start, plug him in a start within the next couple The A’s acquired right-handed pitcher Homer Bailey from the Kansas City Royals.
days, that’s an extra start.”
Bailey isn’t a splashy addition, but the veteran has been solid of late. Forst and the A’s noticed that his fastball had risen to 95 mph and he’d integrated a splitter.
The 33-year-old has a 4.80 ERA in 18 starts, but a more advanced repertoire bumped him to a 3.35 ERA over the last eight of those outings. He’s pitched decently against a few tough teams of late, including a one-run, five-inning win against the Minnesota Twins and a five-inning, two-run start against the Cleveland Indians on July 4.
The A’s woke up Sunday in sole possession of the second wild card spot after winning nine of their last 11 games. Forst said the team is engaged “in conversations” with other teams on possible reliever additions.
“We’re trying to get incrementally better wherever we can, a lot of times maybe we won’t make the market and go out there get the top guy,” Manager Bob Melvin said. “But if we can get better from the bottom up, we feel like it’s a good move to make.”