Can Pache make the A’s cut? Former prospect faces ‘important spring’

A year after being traded to the Oakland Athletics, outfielder Cristian Pache enters spring training in a precarious position.

Acquired in last spring’s trade of Matt Olson to Atlanta, Pache is out of minor-league options. So if the A’s don’t carry him on their Opening Night roster or want to send him to the minors at any point this season, they would need to first designate Pache for assignment and risk another team claiming him on waivers.

That could be a tough decision for the A’s, who made Pache their Opening Day center fielder last year. A gifted defender who has struggled to hit in the majors, Pache could strengthen his case for a roster spot with a good camp.

Manager Mark Kotsay did not downplay the uncertainty of Pache’s status when asked about it on Tuesday, the A’s second day of full-squad workouts.

“For Pache, he’s in a difficult situation” without having minorleague options, Kotsay said. “Not only is he competing for a roster spot here, but he’s going to showcase himself for 29 other teams. So it’s an important spring for Pache, no question, from an individual standpoint, for his career going forward.”

Kotsay added: “I think (Pache) knows the situation he’s in. We want him to be a part of this ballclub . ... He has some intangibles here that we value. I think he’s come into camp very prepared and very ready to go out and earn an opportunity to be a part of this roster.”

Pache, 24, was the Braves’ toprated prospect two years ago. In the Olson deal, he was packaged with catcher Shea Langeliers and pitching prospects Joey Estes and Ryan Cusick. Pache hit .159 in 68 games before the A’s demoted him to Triple-a in late June. He rejoined the A’s in late August in a reserve role and went 8-for40 (.200) in 23 games down the stretch.

Pache showed impressive range in center field with Oakland and rated well in defensive metrics. But his bat remains a big question. He has hit .156 in 115 MLB games and .262 in 156 games at Triple-a. Any power potential he might tap into has yet to manifest in the majors, where he has just four homers with 17 walks and 97 strikeouts in 332 plate appearances.

The A’s have a surplus of outfield candidates in camp that includes prospects Esteury Ruiz and JJ Bleday, both acquired in offseason trades. Ruiz is viewed by Oakland as a future everyday center fielder, though his immediate readiness is unclear. Bleday hit .167 in 65 games with the Marlins last season, but the A’s believe the 25-year-old taken fourth overall in the 2019 draft still has upside given his limited minor-league experience.

Both Ruiz and Bleday have minor-league options remaining, as do Conner Capel, Brent Rooker and Cal Stevenson, other players who might join Ramón Laureano and Seth Brown in Oakland’s outfield mix. The A’s have more flexibility with those players, but they have not indicated they would carry Pache solely because he lacks options.

“I don’t feel pressure,” Pache said Tuesday through a translator. “I’m just going to go out and try to do my job, go out and compete and let everything happen . ... That’s what I want to do. I want to compete for a spot.”

Pache played in the Dominican Winter League in the offseason and said improving his strike-zone discipline was a focus. Pache’s hard-hit and chase rates were slightly better than MLB average last season, but he swung and missed at a much higher clip and had a 58% groundball rate, well above the 45% MLB average. Pitchers fed him a heavy dose of sliders (34.3%), and he batted .176 with a 45% whiff rate against them.

“I’m trying to get a good pitch I can drive, a pitch I can do damage to, and concentrate, don’t miss when I get my pitch,” Pache said.

A’s hitting coach Tommy Everidge noted Pache was often “quick in and out” of the hitting zone with his swing and is working to keep his lower half more stable. Kotsay said the A’s would consider it a positive sign if Pache draws more walks this spring. He noted that the A’s think they can play Pache in the corner outfield spots as well as center, which might be needed if Pache makes the roster as a reserve.

“I think for us, when he stayed with his (hitting) approach to right-center and used that side of the field, there was (some) success,” Kotsay said. “Obviously, he had a difficult year last year, so from a confidence standpoint, it’s getting him going early in camp and watching to see if there’s that adjustment.”