Royals deal RHP Bailey to Athletics for prospect
Jeff PassanESPN
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The Athletics bolstered their beleaguered rotation by buying right-hander Homer Bailey from the Kansas Metropolis Royals, Oakland introduced Sunday.
The 33-year-old Bailey has skilled one thing of a renaissance in 2019, posting his highest strikeout price in additional than half a decade to go together with a 7-6 file and four.80 ERA — his finest quantity in that class since 2014. His numbers have additionally improved over the previous month and a half, as he had a Three.48 ERA in June, going Three-1, and a Three.60 ERA in July.
Bailey had been set to pitch Sunday for Kansas Metropolis in opposition to the Detroit Tigers, however he was scratched from the sport shortly earlier than its scheduled begin.
In trade, the Royals acquired Kevin Merrell, a 23-year-old Double-A infielder hitting .246/.292/.339 and whose biggest attribute is his velocity.
Homer Bailey, after exhibiting improved efficiency in 2019, is becoming a member of a playoff hopeful in Oakland. Jamie Squire/Getty Photos
Whereas Bailey is making $23 million this season, Oakland can be on the hook for lower than $250,000. After dealing for him in a salary-dump commerce over the winter, the Los Angeles Dodgers minimize Bailey and assumed virtually the whole thing of his contract. The Royals signed him for the main league minimal $555,000, and Oakland can pay a prorated portion of that for the rest of the season.
At 52-41, Oakland at present holds the second wild-card spot within the American League and trails the Tampa Bay Rays for the highest wild card by 1½ video games. The A’s are six video games again of the Houston Astros within the AL West, although their run differential of plus-80 is much like the Astros’ plus-86.
Oakland’s rotation, which was dinged with the PED suspension of starter Frankie Montas, has however been stable, backed by probably the greatest defenses in baseball. Starters Mike Fiers, Brett Anderson and Chris Bassitt all have ERAs underneath four.00. Oakland might see reinforcements coming off the injured listing too, with Jharel Cotton at Triple-A recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure and Sean Manaea at excessive Class A after shoulder surgical procedure.
Kansas Metropolis is predicted to deal extra gamers earlier than the July 31 commerce deadline, together with reliever Jake Diekman and, in the event that they pay down a big quantity of his wage, nearer Ian Kennedy.