The Athletics are undergoing changes to their pitching lineup as they prepare for their relocation to Sacramento.
Over the weekend, they bolstered their pitching roster by acquiring Jeffrey Springs in a multi-player trade with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Additionally, the A’s received left-handed pitcher Jacob Lopez in this deal, sending right-handers Joe Boyle and Jacob Watters, infielder Will Simpson, and a competitive balance draft pick for 2025 back to Tampa Bay.
This acquisition of Springs marks a significant step for the A’s as they gear up for their inaugural season in West Sacramento, where they will play at Sutter Health Park for the next three years.
Following that period, the team intends to transition to a new venue in Las Vegas.
Earlier this month, the A’s concluded a substantial contract with established right-hander Luis Severino, valued at $67 million for three years.
This comes after a challenging season for the team, which ended with a record of 69-93, marking the conclusion of 57 seasons in Oakland.
General Manager David Forst expressed satisfaction in acquiring Springs, noting his long-standing pursuit for starting pitching solutions since the offseason began.
He emphasized that securing Severino was only the beginning of their efforts, stating that discussions with the Rays have been ongoing since mid-October.
“I couldn’t be more excited to add Jeffrey Springs to our rotation and also bring in Jacob Lopez, who we view as another valuable option,” Forst remarked.
Springs, who is 32 years old, underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2023.
He made a comeback to the Rays in July and had a record of 2-2 with a 3.27 ERA across seven starts before experiencing elbow fatigue that ended his season in September.
As part of a $31 million, four-year deal, Springs is set to earn $10.5 million over the next two years, which includes a $15 million team option for 2027—this option also comes with a $750,000 buyout clause.
His standout season came in 2022, when he posted a 9-5 record with a remarkable 2.46 ERA in 33 games, including 25 starts, and notched 144 strikeouts in 135 1/3 innings.
Forst noted that Springs might not have been tradeable if he had remained healthy throughout the past two years.
“At the start of 2023, he was on track to be among the top pitchers in the league based on his first few starts,” Forst said.
Despite the setback of injury, Springs managed to perform well upon his return last season, which is a testament to his resilience following the rigorous rehab process.
Jacob Lopez, 26, made his MLB debut in August 2023 and currently holds a record of 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA and one save across eight games, including two starts.
On the other hand, Tampa Bay is looking to recover from an underwhelming 80-82 finish this past season.
In contrast, they performed well in 2023, going 99-63 and securing a wild card spot for the AL playoffs.
Joe Boyle, a towering prospect standing at 6-foot-7, was drafted in the fifth round by Cincinnati in 2020 from the University of Notre Dame before being traded to the A’s in July.
At 25 years old, Boyle possesses a strong pitching arm but has occasionally faced challenges with control, resulting in a record of 5-6 and a 5.23 ERA over 16 major league games, including 13 starts, with 71 strikeouts and 45 walks throughout 63 2/3 innings.
Will Simpson, aged 23, had an impressive minor league campaign this year, achieving a .282 batting average with 18 homers and 90 RBIs across 127 games over two minor league teams.
Meanwhile, Jacob Watters, also 23, is 9-12 with a 5.86 ERA over 43 minor league appearances and was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft.
