Reliever returns to Bay Area
Yusmeiro Petit is back in the Bay Area, officially joining the A’s on Thursday after signing a two-year deal that includes a club option for 2021.
Petit, 33, pitched for the Giants from 2012 through ’15 and his history with the area will help him adjust to his new team, the reliever said on a conference call, with Juan Dorado interpreting. “I was on the other side of the bay, but I feel good coming back to a town I’m really familiar with.”
Santiago Casilla, Petit’s former Giants teammate, will be next to him in the bullpen, too. Petit said, “Having him there will help me get more comfortable.”
Petit made the Angels out of camp last year and worked in 60 games, including one start, putting up a 2.76 ERA and striking out 101 in 911⁄3 innings. He walked just 18. He said that the key to his season was that he focused on working in the bottom half of the strike zone.
“Petit’s a guy we talked about a lot from the beginning of the offseason, if not before,” general manager David Forst said. “We saw him a lot this season with the Angels and it was obvious to us he was a perfect guy for what we need with his ability to do anything. When you’ve got a young starting staff, supporting them in the bullpen is a priority.”
To make room for Petit on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated infielder Joey Wendle for assignment. Wendle, who showed some promise in brief call-ups, was acquired from Cleveland for Brandon Moss after the 2014 season.
The A’s acquired another reliever, Emilio Pagan, in the Ryon Healy deal with Seattle last month. In addition, Oakland re-signed right-hander Simon Castro to a minorleague deal, along with lefthanded minor-league freeagent Eric Jokisch.
The A’s have little depth when it comes to left-handed relief help. Forst said the team is still looking for some lefthanded relief possibilities, but said the A’s do like Jokisch and recently signed minorleague free-agent Jarret Martin.
“We still conversations that involve the bullpen,” Forst said. “I wouldn’t say that we’re done.”