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Oakland Athletics’ Bullpen Improvements Are Key to Contending

By Katrina Hamrick

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Oakland Athletics’ Bullpen Changes Are Necessary Improvements If They Hope to Contend

The Oakland Athletics have quietly revamped their entire bullpen, which seems like a minor change after the disastrous 2015 season, but it’s actually one of the best possible uses of their resources. While it’s still doubtful that they’ll be able to truly contend for the duration of 2016, they’re setting themselves up to at least field a competitive team that will set the stage for future success.

Sure, a power hitter like Yoenis Cespedes sounds good in theory, but the reality is that one good player, or even two, isn’t really enough to carry a team (see: Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. Also, see: Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez.) Someone who gets a hit in roughly 30 percent of their at-bats is considered a star, so even a player as great as Cespedes would fail to score a run the majority of the times he goes to the plate.

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That isn’t to say that the A’s couldn’t use some offensive upgrades as well, but it’s much wiser to spend the money where it can make the biggest impact. The A’s needed an all-new relief crew this season, and nothing demonstrated that fact quite as much as the 35 one-run games that the team lost last year. Too often, starters like Sonny Gray pitched a stellar game only to have the bullpen blow it. It seemed that no matter which relief pitcher was called on to pitch, it was a nerve-racking experience for fans.

The A’s have made so many changes to the bullpen that they’ve gone from having one of the worst relief crews in the league to one that could easily belong to a contending team. Gone are Drew Pomeranz and Pat Venditte, the only two pitchers besides Sean Doolittle who might have been guaranteed a job in 2016. Also missing are Evan Scribner, Fernando Abad, Edward Mujica and Dan Otero, who all had ups and downs (mostly downs) throughout the season that ultimately resulted in poor overall results. Even reliever-turned-starter Jesse Chavez is gone, which eliminates the possibility of seeing him return to a relief role next season.

Instead, Doolittle will head a crew that includes two-time World Series champion Ryan Madson, 2011 National League saves leader and Reliever of the Year John Axford, lefty-specialist Marc Rzepczynski, and starter-turned-reliever Liam Hendriks. Those aren’t necessarily household names, but they are still a lot of second-tier talent, not just aging, injury-plagued “scrap-pile” pickups.

On Friday, Susan Slusser clarified the bullpen roles a little further, tweeting that the A’s announced on a conference call with reporters that Sean Doolittle is a lock as the closer. She also stated that Madson and Axford will be the eighth- and seventh-inning setup men, respectively.

Let’s start with Madson. The former Royals’ reliever got far more money (and years) than anyone was expecting. The projections on every site – from MLB Trade Rumors to MLB.com – suggested he’d get a moderate salary and most likely a two-year deal, which is why he seemed like a good target for the bargain-hungry Athletics.

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Madson didn’t come cheaply, but it shouldn’t matter. The Athletics didn’t sign him to such a major contract without thoroughly examining his injury history and performing an in-depth physical, which means that Madson is hardly as fragile as he might seem to fans. Prior to his three-year injury break from the major leagues, Madson had never really missed time with a significant injury, so if he’s fully recovered, there’s no reason to believe he can’t stay healthy. Much like Scott Kazmir, a long-term absence doesn’t always result in the end of a career or sudden recurring injuries.

Meanwhile, Axford is a good candidate for a rebound season, considering the distractions that plagued him in Colorado. The health issues of his three-year-old son, who was bitten by a rattlesnake during 2015 Spring Training, have been widely covered by the media. With those more-pressing concerns combined with the hitter-friendly environment at Coors Field, it’s no wonder that Axford struggled with the Rockies, posting a 4.20 ERA in 55.2 innings.

This doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to succeed in 2016 – he’s struggled to repeat the results he had in 2011 in each of his last four seasons, which is a large sample size of mediocrity – but if there’s any ballpark where he can reclaim his title as one of the game’s best relievers, it’s the Coliseum.

Hendriks posted solid numbers with the Blue Jays last season, but he’s young and has only one year of experience as a full-time reliever. The A’s are wise to give him some protection, making him the top relief option without a specific role. Rzepczynski, who has filled the part of left-handed specialist many times in his career, will certainly be an improvement for the A’s in that area. He had a rough half-season with the San Diego Padres, but prior to that, he was the go-to lefty on the Cleveland Indians’ staff, especially in close, late games.

Assuming the Athletics use a seven-man bullpen, that leaves three spots: perfect for Fernando Rodriguez, Ryan Dull and long-man Felix Doubront. While there are others – Arnold Leon, R.J. Alvarez, Aaron Brooks and Aaron Kurcz – who will have the chance to prove themselves in Spring Training, Rodriguez, Dull and Doubrant are the best choices based on last year’s results.

After thinking about last year’s bullpen and the mistakes they made which contributed to those 35 one-run losses, it’s impossible not to feel hopeful about this new relief crew. The level of talent has increased, there is far more veteran leadership, and the bullpen roles are now clearly defined.

Next: Madson's Leadership Will Be Key For Team

Spending money on relief pitching might not seem like the biggest, boldest move for an organization, but in terms of impact per dollar, the A’s have greatly improved the team with these moves. Relievers are in high demand this year, which was made obvious at the Winter Meetings, when teams paid top dollar and traded away valuable prospects to improve their bullpens.

A top offensive player would have been more exciting for fans, but just look at the best teams in the league the last few years compared to those that fell short – it’s impossible to succeed in baseball without a good bullpen.