"Manager Mark Kotsay used a committee approach in the ninth inning after the A's traded Mason Miller at the deadline. Hogan Harris, Sean Newcomb, Michael Kelly and Tyler Ferguson each picked up at least one save. Osvaldo Bido got one as well, but that was of the 'three innings to finish a blowout' variety. The patchwork relief group pitched well. Only the Guardians had a lower bullpen ERA than the A's 2.99 mark over the final two months."
"The quartet of Harris, Kelly, Newcomb and Ferguson had a combined four career saves before August. Newcomb, who had two of them, is headed to free agency. The A's don't have many relievers with significant big league experience of any kind. They won't have a single reliever with even two years of MLB service time once Newcomb, José Leclerc and Scott McGough hit free agency."
The A's enter the offseason prioritizing starting pitching and infield help at second or third base while also targeting a proven late‑game reliever with closing experience. After trading Mason Miller, the team used a ninth‑inning committee with Hogan Harris, Sean Newcomb, Michael Kelly, Tyler Ferguson and occasional long relief from Osvaldo Bido. The bullpen posted a 2.99 ERA over the final two months and surrendered only three blown leads, but front‑office preference leans toward a more established back‑end arm. The club lacks relievers with substantial MLB service time; several key arms are headed for free agency and José Leclerc is unlikely to return after shoulder surgery.
#starting-pitching #closerlate-game-reliever #infield-depth-2b3b #bullpen-experience-and-free-agency
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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