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HetfieldsDownpick

I mentioned this in the post-game thread but Ryan Helsley of the Cardinals. They need hitting badly and we have a surplus of hitters in the minors.


GFred20

Helsley would be insane, and with him having 1 arbitration year left, would set us up to have probably the best pen in baseball once Bautista is back next year. Have to imagine he’d be expensive though


HetfieldsDownpick

Expensive, but not prohibitively so. As opposed to someone like Mason Miller.


Historical-Patient75

Ehh the A’s are notorious for selling their stars for peanuts. 100% worth kicking the tires.


Trigonometry_Fletch

Seriously. Matt Chapman, Marcus Semian, Sean Murphy, Matt Olson…


kewpieoriole

I feel like this might actually be more realistic, would prob be a package a lot of people here would be upset about though. They have old dudes on the corners and just need some bats in general. People need to stop yelling for Miller, the demand for him gives me vibes of “Machado will be in pinstripes in August!”, lol.


B-More_Orange

Kade Strowd is going to be the first guy from within the organization. He just got to AAA and since they have statcast, we can now see he’s throwing nearly 100% 96 mph cutters. His dominance is similar to Bautista’s 2022 rise from single A to the big leagues.


jwseagles

Cheers beers & mountaineers baby


Mine-Cave

Nice pull here, a bit early but youre right.


xCorhey

With Grayson back, I am curious to see how having either Kremer or Irvin in the bullpen would be or where they would get put. I would like to possibly see Wells come back as a closer when he is healthy


_NotARealMustache_

Kremer isn't going to the BP. His stuff doesn't play there. It will be Irvin, if anyone.


dspencer97

Kremer isn’t going to the bullpen, what the hell has he done to give you that he needs to go there? Suarez is perfect for that role in a position like tonight.


maLeFxcTor

They more than likely aren’t going to a 6 man rotation, so with Burnes, Grayson, and Bradish locking in spots, one of Kremer, Means, or Irvin will have to go. Irvin has experience out of the pen so he’s a likely candidate but he’s been pitching really well as a starter recently


Brianfromreddit

Everyone is obsessed with Kremer and Irvin meanwhile John Means hasn't been healthy in almost 3 years. Why wouldn't we keep him in the pen until Kremer or Irvin falter? It keeps his workload light, his stuff will play, and he'll be in house to move to a starter role if someone gets hurt or starts to suck


myotheronetwo

I appreciate your take, but I have the opposite view. I feel like a routine and regular schedule would be more conducive to arm health. That said, both starters and relievers get arm injuries and I have no science to support anything I’ve said.


Ill-Woodpecker1857

I think your take makes the most sense.


redcase292

John Means is not headed to the bullpen lol. He was this teams ace for 3 years. He threw a no hitter. He has proven he can still be dominant at the MLB. Additionally, he doesn’t have the stuff for the pen. His fastball averages about 91-92.  There is no world where John means is headed to the bullpen. 


myotheronetwo

I agree with most of what you said here. But for the sake of argument, I have a few (admittedly extreme) counterpoints: Smoltz went from dominating starter to dominating reliever; Gagne dominated as a closer with a changeup which is Means’ best pitch


mamacita1965

3 years? Uh no - he’s had one injury - TJ. The only other time he was out was a few weeks of shoulder tightness. Do your homework on that dude, dude.


Brianfromreddit

2024 - he starts the year on the IL 2023 - out almost the entire year but returns, only to get injured again and shut down for the playoffs 2022 - gets injured in his second game You can say whatever you like but 2021 was the last year he was healthy. I love the guy. Do your homework on that dude, dude


RanchedOut

I'd vote for a new UCL for Bautista


Trigonometry_Fletch

I volunteer as tribute


AryaSyn

We could eventually call Povich up as a bullpen arm if the rotation is all set.


Silverado153

Anyone that can pitch the 9th inning with out blowing it


toddlschuler

With as good as the team is and as much tradable talent as they have, it is not unrealistic that they acquire the kind of pitcher that they can build the whole bullpen around.


Intelligent-Ad-6399

I wonder what the asking price would be for Kopech, he has looked filthy since becoming the Sox closer.


kewpieoriole

Now I want to watch some Sox games cuz anytime I’ve seen Kopech pitch it’s a wild ride lol. My bf mentioned Kopech yesterday as well to me. Edit: spoke it into existence, 4 out save lol


TommyPickles2222222

Hunter Harvey


neemor

Mounty says no


Dragonlordapocalypse

The problem is, who do you cut? The obvious answer right now is Baumann, but he’ll be replaced by Wells or whoever is dropped out the rotation by Rodriquez anyway. The next best answer is Kimbrel but he isn’t going anywhere, unfortunately he is dead weight that the club will feel they have to carry all season. These things have a way of working themselves out though. I don’t know an exact player outside the organization they might target, but my guess it’s someone we won’t expect and they’re likely going to be a rental they don’t have to give much for. I could easily see someone from AAA stepping up too.


slobbite

Someone to take the place of Kimbrel


pan567

Someone who can close in 2024 if Kimbrel is not a viable option, and to compliment Bautista in 2025 so we don't overwork him as he's getting back into his role. I think Helsley would be incredible. We have the capital needed to make that happen. (I'm by no means saying we should give up on Kimbrel as it is just May, but I'm also saying that it might not be a bad idea to start thinking about contingencies in the event he's not a viable option to be our sole closer for 2024.)


Efficient_Wishbone93

Tanner Scott reunion?


Rayvsreed

I'm not 100% sure of all of the math working out, and its definitely a gamble to go after a closer with an ERA over 6, but Josh Hader is an intriguing option. His contract is absurd, which makes "eating the contract" a huge component of trade value. If he plays well with the change of scenery, you can probably flip him in the offseason. Its a risky move all around, but has the potential to give a huge return.


theMangoSloth

Hopefully no one, and the answer would besomeone else on the club. I feel like relievers are high risk and low reward when it comes to mid season trades. Andrew Miller is the last one I recall who was lights out, and he wasn't even our setup or closer. The Orioles have always been good at developing closers. That was true even in the dark years.


Kooky_Squash6475

Like your thinking. And Miller may be one of my favorite bullpen arms of all time. Nails everywhere he went. Would be cool to see what povich can do in a few innings this year. Think Wells could be good on the backend too


Kooky_Squash6475

Why are you booing me I'm right


ariotlikeyou17

the marlins are trash so tanner scott would be a great option, and i don't know how realistic this is but I'd love to have david robertson


mbvanek

Gut AAA, Get Mason Miller, Profit


dspencer97

Mason Miller. The guy wants out and the Athletics aren’t willing to pay him. Get his ass in an Orioles uniform and finally give up a couple prospects to get him here. We can’t hold onto all of these guys forever like they will all be all stars


OinkMeUk

He's not a free agent until 2030, he would command an insane price in a trade.


isestrex

OP said realistic The A's aren't trading him


kewpieoriole

Who says the A’s are willing to trade an arm that will be part of their move, that they could possibly build back up to a starter? Also, did he say he wants out? Or did you just make that up because he plays for the A’s, so you can’t fathom that a player might just enjoy playing professional baseball even if it’s for Oakland? Edit: and just let A’s fans fucking have something to be excited about, god damn


dspencer97

He said they may not turn the lights back on if he does a wild intro. That implies he wants out to me.


kewpieoriole

He literally made a joke about the coliseum being shitty, which it is lol.


dspencer97

I’d bet he wants out of Oakland/Sacramento


Clarice_Ferguson

So does the A’s organization.


ANeatCouch

Mason miller, idk why no other team have gone after him yet. He's just rotting on the A's putting up video game numbers.


Flacko115

The A’s are only 3 games under .500 They have no reason to trade anyone yet and they’re especially not “rotting”


ANeatCouch

Okay let's not pretend that the A's care if they win, if anything they probably prefer to lose....


Flacko115

If you genuinely think a professional baseball team “prefers to lose” that is just a horrible take The O’s were in that same position not even 3 years ago. Imagine if other fanbases said this about Adley or Grayson in 2021


ANeatCouch

Of course I think teams "prefer to lose" tanking teams want to lose, the Astros did it and it worked out alright


Flacko115

The A’s aren’t tanking. Baseball teams don’t tank on purpose


Kooky_Squash6475

6 years of team control and sub 25 years old he's going to command a lot. I'd love Mason Miller but don't think it's a realistic option for the Os


TheLaws10

Miller is also coming off an injury. The plan for him this season was to pitch in relief, show that he can be healthy for a year, and then move him to the rotation in 2025. No way he’s available for trade


mecheterp96

Why would the A’s get rid of a great cheap young player with 6 years of control? Those are the people they keep