The A's remain the exception in what's generally been a slow-moving offseason of transactions around the majors.
They continued adding to their bullpen Wednesday, agreeing to terms with one-time Giant Yusmeiro Petit on a two-year contract, a source confirmed to NBCSportsCalifornia.com. The Athletic reported that it's a $10 million deal with a club option for 2020.
The 33-year-old right-hander was a workhorse for the Los Angeles Angels last season, leading all major league relievers with 87 1/3 innings and posting a 2.76 ERA. He averaged 10.0 strikeouts per nine innings and just 1.8 walks in what was, across the board, the finest season of his 10-year career.
Petit will join Oakland's crowded right-handed relief contingent that recently added Emilio Pagan from Seattle in a trade for Ryon Healy. With a surplus of right-handed bullpen arms, the A's may face a tough call or two leading up to Friday's deadline to tender contracts to players eligible for arbitration. Liam Hendriks and Chris Hatcher, both righty relievers, are among their seven remaining players who are arb-eligible.
Those who get non-tendered become free agents.
The A's have yet to announce Petit's signing, but his skill set would be a nice fit for them. He's proven to be a versatile performer, having pitched in every relief role imaginable over his career. Of his 59 relief appearances last season, in 33 of them he worked more than one inning. But he also made one spot start and saved four games.
Petit won a World Series ring with the Giants in 2014 and earned a victory with six scoreless innings in their memorable 18-inning win over the Nationals in the NL Division Series that season.
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The A's remain in the market for a lefty reliever, but they have no shortage of righties in their ‘pen. Blake Treinen, Santiago Casilla (in the second of a two-year contract), Pagan, Petit and Ryan Dull seemingly would take up five spots in what's likely to be a seven-man, or at max, an eight-man ‘pen. Hatcher assumed a setup role upon joining the A's in August and will return if he's tendered a contract. Hendriks remains in the mix for now.
The A's will also require a couple of lefties. Incumbent Daniel Coulombe could be one and Oakland is looking to add another. There's also righties Raul Alcantara, Chris Bassitt and Frankie Montas, the latter of which is out of minor league options.
According to The Athletic, first to report Petit's deal, he will be paid $3.5 million in 2018 and $5.5 million in 2019. The A's hold a $5.5 million club option for 2020 that includes a $1 million buyout.
Free-agent RHP Yusmeiro Petit in agreement with #Athletics on two-year, $10M deal with club option, according to his agent, Rafael Godoy. Pending physical.— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 30, 2017
Petit actually threw 87 1/3 innings of relief for #Angels. Also made one start on July 29, allowing #BlueJays one run (none earned). Breakdown of deal: $3.5M/$5.5M with $1M buyout on $5.5M club option. https://t.co/phSsWaE3mZ— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 30, 2017
