Rule 5 pick Spence to get chance at rotation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Shohei Ohtani factor was a major reason the Winter Meetings came and went without a slew of free-agent signings, but the trickle-down effect didn’t necessarily affect the pennypinching Oakland Athletics.
“Obviously it’s not stopping us from doing anything, I don’t think,” said general manager David Forst, whose payroll limitations force him to consider only inexpensive free agents. “But I’m guessing if you polled everybody here, a majority would tell you that Ohtani’s holding things up.”
Forst didn’t leave Nashville without adding a player. With their majors-worst 50-112 record, the A’s had the first pick in Wednesday’s Rule 5 draft and selected Mitch Spence, a right-handed starting pitcher from the Yankees organization.
Spence, 25, is a control pitcher who went 8-8 with a 4.47 ERA in 29 starts for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, striking out 153 and walking 53 in 163 innings. Based on Rule 5 guidelines, the A‘s must pay $100,000 for Spence, who would need to spend the entire 2024 season on the big-league roster or be offered back to the Yankees for $50,000.
“We were looking for pitching,” Forst said. “We’re going to let him come in as a starter and give him an opportunity. We think it’s a repertoire that has a chance to translate in the big leagues.”
Spence’s four-pitch mix features a cutter and two breaking pitches. A’s starters had an AL-worst 5.74 ERA. Even if Spence doesn’t crack Oakland’s season-opening rotation, Forst said, the A’s will give him a chance to make the team as a reliever.
The A’s have had some success with Rule 5 draftees, most recently with first baseman Ryan Noda, who was selected a year ago from the Dodgers and hit 16 homers with a .770 OPS in 128 games. Outfielder Mark Canha was a Rule 5 pickup in 2014.
In the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft, the A’s lost three players, seeing catcher William Simoneit go to the Phillies, pitcher Calvin Coker to the Tigers and outfielder Moises Gallardo to the Nationals. The A’s did not select anyone in the minor-league phase.