Outfielder Bolt gets shuttled between Giants, A’s
Outfielder Skye Bolt has flipped between two big league rosters three times within a span of one month. Lucky for him, only the Bay Bridge separates those two MLB teams.
The Oakland A’s acquired Bolt for cash considerations from the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. On April 5, the Giants claimed Bolt off waivers from the A’s. Oakland designated the outfielder for assignment on Opening Day to make room on the 40-man roster for second baseman Jed Lowrie.
Bolt will be added to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators roster, whose season begins on May 6. Bolt appeared in two games with one plate appearance for the Giants. San Francisco designated the 27-year-old for assignment on April 30 to make room for reliever Zack Littell on the 40man roster.
This is the second transaction between the A’s and Giants since February 2020, when Oakland acquired Giants reliever Burch Smith for cash. That transaction broke a 16-year trade drought between the two Bay Area teams; not since the Giants traded pitcher Adam Pettyjohn to the A’s for cash had the rivals swapped assets.
The switch-hitting Bolt made his big league debut with the A’s in 2019, where he had one hit in 11 at-bats with three strikeouts.
JORDAN WEEMS SPARED TOOLS OF IGNORANCE >> As catcher Sean Murphy was taking a beating Tuesday night, manager Bob Melvin was growing concerned. With Amaris Garcia on the injured list and Austin Allen having yet arrived from the minor league complex, the A’s were without a backup catcher.
“He got hit by three backswings. He got hit by a pitch in the elbow,” Melvin said. “It was a little dicey, because I wasn’t going to come into that game and catch.”
Melvin said right-handed pitcher Jordan Weems, converted by the Boston Red Sox organization from catcher to pitcher three years ago, was next man up if Murphy had to come out. After that it was infielder Vimail Machin.
Melvin was hesitant to use Weems on the mound (he didn’t) with Allen having yet arrived. He didn’t tell Weems what was up, but it’s been discussed.
“I’ve told him before if we lose our catcher (he’s the guy),” Melvin said. “He’s up for it.”
HAVE BASEBALLS LOST THEIR JUICE? >> A’s center fielder Ramon Laureano opined the other day baseballs weren’t carrying as far as usual this season.
Designated hitter Keith Moreland has yet to make up his mind after slicing a two-run home run to the opposite field Tuesday night.
On one hand, Moreland conceded, “I didn’t hit it great, but I hit it good enough” and the ball still went out of the park for a two-run home run in the fourth inning against Anthony Key. On the other hand, Moreland saw one drive he thought sure was going the distance that suspiciously fell short of its estimated destination.
“There’s some I feel like should go or at least should hit the wall that aren’t getting there,” Moreland said.
Summer should provide an answer either way, Moreland believes.
“Once we see the weather change a little bit, we’ll play in some warmer places where the ball flight is better,” Moreland said.