With a clear need for relief help, the A’s are set to add a strong bullpen reinforcement with left-hander Andrew Chafin in a deal with the Cubs, a source told MLB.com on Monday. Neither club has confirmed the deal.
The return from Oakland is unclear at this point, though MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal reported that outfielder Greg Deichmann, ranked by MLB Pipeline as Oakland’s No. 9 prospect, is one of two players going to Chicago in exchange for Chafin, whose contract includes a $5.25 million mutual option for 2022 with a $500,000 buyout.
Chafin, 31, has emerged as one of the top left-handed relievers in baseball this season. In 43 appearances with the Cubs, he’s posted a 2.06 ERA with 37 strikeouts and 12 walks across 39 1/3 innings pitched. Chafin has been tough on hitters on both sides of the plate, though he’s actually fared slightly better against righties, holding them to a .147 batting average as opposed to a .164 average against lefties.
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1. Brian C Posted: July 27, 2021 at 12:04 AM (#6030650)Still, I guess that + one other guy is a fair return for a guy like Chafin - Deichmann is better than the guy they gave up to get Chafin in the first place, at any rate. But "Oakland's No. 9 prospect" makes it sound like Oakland is giving up more than they probably are in reality. I guess we'll see who the other guy is.
Deichman's .884 OPS seems less impressive when you see Las Vegas as a team has an .864 OPS. The league has an .821 OPS!
I'm still stuck on the 4 HR this season - in Vegas! That ties him for 8th on the team despite being 2nd on the team in PA.
No opinion on Palencia. Seems like a random minor league pitcher - "fastball sits 97-99" means a lot less than it used to.
Is what it is. Chafin's been a decent pitcher for most of his career but obviously not a guy that's going to bring a ton back in a deal like this.
The other guy will hopefully provide some non-embarrassing AAAA PAs next year as part of an exciting Happ-Ortega-Heyward and Super Friends OF. (maybe Brennen Davis will arrive)
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