Ex-Giant Petit to sign 2-year deal, report says
Yusmeiro Petit, the rubber-armed pitcher who threw six of the most critical innings in San Francisco Giants history, is coming back to the bay. The East Bay, to be specific. Petit has reached agreement on a two-year, $10 million contract with the A's, according to Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic.
Petit, 33, is coming off a solid year with the Angels. He pitched 911⁄3 innings, in 59 relief appearances and one start, with a career-best 2.76 ERA.
Petit is one of the most versatile pitchers in the majors. As a starter, he fell one out short of a perfect game in 2013. He can also pitch in short or long relief, relying on command and a variety of pitches rather than velocity. His fastball averages 90 mph.
In Game 2 of the 2014 National League Division Series at Washington, Petit threw six shutout innings for the Giants and was the winning pitcher when Brandon Belt hit an 18thinning homer to break a 1-1 tie that had stood since the ninth inning.
The A's reportedly will pay Petit $3.5 million in 2018 and $5.5 million in 2019, with a $5.5 million option for 2020 with a $1 million buyout.
The Venezuela native will add experience to a bullpen that lost a lot of it when the A's traded Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to the Nationals in July.
Petit will join former Giants teammate Santiago Casilla in the Oakland bullpen. — Henry Schulman Smolinski to return: Outfielder Jake Smolinski agreed to a $775,000, one-year contract with the A’s.
Smolinski missed most of the 2017 season following right shoulder surgery before returning to play in 16 games. His stint included 11 games in the outfield — nine of those in center, which manager Bob Melvin considered a major step heading into the offseason and toward 2018.
Smolinski will have competition in center next season, with rehabbing Dustin Fowler in the mix to start in center after he was acquired in the trade that sent Sonny Gray to the Yankees. Boog Powell also impressed Melvin and the front office.
Smolinski batted .259 this year, his fourth partial majorleague season. His 2018 deal does not have a lower salary while in the minor leagues.