A’s make splash with new closer, slugger
A day after San Diego signed Fernando Tatis Jr. to a record $340 million contract, the Oakland A’s swooped in Thursday to grab a pair of free agents the Padres discarded by reportedly acquiring closer Trevor Rosenthal and designated hitter Mitch Moreland to one-year deals.
The hard-throwing Rosenthal, who enjoyed a rebirth with the Padres and Royals last season, will sign a one-year, $11 million deal, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman. Rosenthal, 30, would replace Liam Hendriks as the A’s new closer.
Meanwhile, Oakland reportedly also agreed to a one-year
deal with Moreland, a veteran free-agent designated hitter/first baseman. Moreland, 35, is a longtime Oakland nemesis whose potent left-handed bat makes him an attractive designated hitter option.
Moreland’s deal first was reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Moreland will earn $2.25 million plus incentives, according to ESPN.
Rosenthal’s signing provides relief for a team that leaned on the bullpen to win the AL West title last season. The A’s had lost All-Star closer Hendriks to the Chicago White Sox and setup man Joakim Soria to the Arizona Diamondbacks in free agency.
Rosenthal, who has a 98 mph fastball and a newly developed wipeout slider, will be the new closer. His presence improves Oakland’s setup situation with left-handers Jake Diekman, Adam Kolarek and A.J. Puk, as well as righthanders Sergio Romo, Lou Trivino, Burch Smith and Yusmeiro Petit.
Overall in 2020, Rosenthal had a 1.90 ERA, 0.845
WHIP and 11 saves in 12 games.
Moreland, who has become one of the baseball’s most reliable, underrated left-handed hitters, might be the solution for Oakland at DH.
Moreland, who split time with the Boston Red Sox and Padres last season, hit 10 home runs in only 136 at-bats with a slash line of .265/.342/.551 and an .894 OPS in 2020. He has done almost all of his damage against righthanded pitching in recent years. Last year, Moreland had a .938 OPS against righties, against whom he hit all but one of his 10 homers.