A’s agree with reliever Soria on 2-year deal
With starting pitching at a premium at the trade deadline last year, the A’s decided to place more focus on adding relievers, and that trend appears to be holding true this winter, given the high-priced market for starting pitchers.
Oakland doesn’t have any returning starters from the end-of-the-season rotation and has yet to make a move to fill any of the rotation spots, but Thursday the team agreed to a $15 million, two-year deal with free-agent reliever Joakim Soria, a source confirmed. A physical is expected to be completed Friday.
The A’s had interest in obtaining Soria in a trade last winter before he was dealt to the White Sox, according to multiple sources. The 34-year-old, a two-time All-Star, earned 16 saves with the White Sox, and on July 26, he was traded to Milwaukee. With the Brewers, he was used as a setup man; he allowed four runs in two appearances in the NLCS against the Dodgers.
Juerys Familia — one of Oakland’s tradedeadline acquisitions — left as a free agent last month, signing a deal with his previous club, the Mets. Soria fits the bill as a potential setup man for Oakland closer Blake Treinen.
Soria had a 3.10 combined ERA with the White Sox and Brewers, and the right-hander has 220 career saves with a lifetime ERA of 2.88 in 639 appearances.
The Angels agreed to a $9 million, one-year deal with pitcher Trevor Cahill. The 30-year old right-hander went 7-4 with a 3.76 ERA for the A’s last season. He allowed eight homers in 110 innings, the fourth-best rate in the American League. His 7.36 hits allowed per nine innings were the league’s ninth lowest. Cahill, who grew up nearby in Oceanside, was selected to the All-Star Game in 2010 with the A’s. He is 80-83 with a 4.08 ERA in 10 bigleague seasons. Cahill can earn $1.5 million in bonuses for innings pitched: $250,000 each for 100, 110, 120 and 130, and $500,000 for 170. He would get a $250,000 assignment bonus the first time during the deal he is traded.
The Rockies and infielder Daniel Murphy agreed to a $24 million, two-year contract. Murphy is a .330 hitter in 26 games at Coors Field. The 33-year-old spent last season with the Nationals and Cubs, hitting a combined .299 with 12 homers. The three-time All-Star missed the start of the year after undergoing right knee surgery.
Houston reliever Joe Smith had surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon and will be out six to eight months. Smith was hurt while working out last week. The 34-year-old righthander was 5-1 with a 3.74 ERA in 56 appearances for the Astros last season.