A’s Add To Deep Bullpen By Acquiring Cory Gearrin

The Athletics continued to add to their bullpen Friday, acquiring righthander Cory Gearrin from the Rangers in a deal that adds even further experience and depth to one of the deepest bullpens in the game. Gearrin joins Jeurys Famila, Fernando Rodney and Shawn Kelley among relievers the A’s have traded for in the past two months.

 

 

ATHLETICS ACQUIRE:

Cory Gearrin, RHP
Age: 32

Gearrin barely had time to unpack during his time with Texas. He was sent to the Rangers from the Giants in San Francisco’s salary dump trade that sent Austin Jackson’s salary to Texas. In that deal the Giants also sent righthander Jason Bahr for the Rangers willingness to take on Jackson’s salary. Gearrin wasn’t as effective as normal early this year with the Giants, but he threw more strikes in Texas, where he went 1-0, 2.53 with 20 strikeouts in 21.1 innings. Gearrin joins an extremely deep and talented Athletics bullpen, which means he won’t have to take on a high-leverage role. But as an effective veteran reliever, he helps further help the A’s fill innings that its injury-plagued starting rotation may not be able to handle.

RANGERS ACQUIRE:

Teodoro Ortega, RHP
Age: 18

Ortega has a fast, loose arm that implies that he may have significantly more velocity to come in the future. Right now he sits 88-90 mph and his secondary offerings are not well refined, but he’s a young pitcher just adjusting to pro ball. He made his debut in the Dominican Summer League this year, going 3-1, 2.11 with 48 strikeouts in 42.2 innings.

 

Abdiel Mendoza, RHP
Age: 19

Mendoza is more refined but also less projectable than Ortega. A short (5-foot-10) righthander, Mendoza sits 88-93 mph with feel for spinning a promising curveball and he shows some feel for a developing changeup. Mendoza was in his second stint with short-season Vermont, where he was 2-3, 3.32 with 41 strikeouts in 57 innings, largely as a starter.