A’s Nab Tanner Roark From Reds, Deal OF Jameson Hannah

Image credit: Tanner Roark (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

The Athletics made a move to upgrade their starting rotation, acquiring Tanner Roark from the Reds in exchange for high Class A outfielder Jameson Hannah. According to Susan Slusser, the Reds will pay $2.1 million of the roughly $3 million remaining on Roark’s contract, which expires after the 2019 season.

REDS ACQUIRE

Jameson Hannah, OF
Age: 21

Hannah ranked as the No. 7 prospect in Oakland’s farm system after signing with the A’s for $1.8 million last year as a second-round pick out of Dallas Baptist. It’s been a modest season for Hannah, who was hitting .283/.341/.381 through 92 games in the California League and turns 22 in two weeks. He’s a plus runner who has split time between center and right field this season (the A’s also have Austin Beck at high Class A Stockton) and projects to stick in center. Hannah has a quick swing, but he has minimal power and isn’t a high contact frequency or high walk rate guy, so those skills would have to take a significant forward for him to be able to develop as an everyday big leaguer. Right now, he doesn’t project as an everyday big leaguer.

ATHLETICS ACQUIRE

Tanner Roark, RHP
Age: 32

A free agent after this season, Roark provides a boost to the end of the A’s rotation. He’s been roughly a league-average pitcher this year and on balance for the last three years, a durable starter who can slot in as a lower-end No. 3 or high-end No. 4 starter.