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Oakland A's rumors: A's active in free agent relief market picking up steam this week

The Athletics, no surprise here, are actively seeking relief pitching, reports ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.

Tony Sipp is one of the top left-handers in the free agent reliever market.
Tony Sipp is one of the top left-handers in the free agent reliever market.
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Deals for free agent relievers are expected this week, and the Oakland Athletics are active players in the market, reports ESPN's Jerry Crasnick:

The trade market for relief pitchers has already been quite active with over a dozen relievers on the move this offseason, including deals involving Francisco Rodriguez, Craig Kimbrel, Joaquin Benoit, and Liam Hendriks.

In terms of the top free agent relievers, here is who ranked in the crowdsourced top 82 free agents on FanGraphs:

FanGraphs crowdsourced Top 82 free agents ($ in millions)
Player Hand Med Yrs Med Sal Total Known suitors
Darren O'Day RHP 3 $7 $21 WSHLAD, ATLOAKBOS, DET, CHC
Joakim Soria RHP 2 $7 $14 MINKC, SF, TEX
Tommy Hunter RHP 2 $5 $10 SD, DET, CLE
Bud Norris RHP 2 $6 $9 SIGNED: 1 year, $2.5 w/ATL
Shawn Kelley RHP 2 $4 $8 DET
Mark Lowe RHP 2 $4 $8
Tim Lincecum RHP 1 $6 $6 January showcase after hip surgery
Chris Young RHP 1 $6 $6 KCBAL
Trevor Cahill RHP 1 $5 $5
Ryan Madson RHP 1 $5 $5 LADDET
Jonathan Broxton RHP 1 $4 $4
Brandon Morrow RHP 1 $4 $4 SD
Joe Blanton RHP 1 $4 $4
Tony Sipp LHP 2 $5 $10 HOUother AL West teamsKC
Antonio Bastardo LHP 2 $4 $8

The A's previously had been connected to top free agent reliever Darren O'Day in a report by the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser last week. He has been seeking a four-year deal around $28-36MM, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Since that report, however, the A's have not appeared in conversations in terms of who is leading the bidding for his services:

Otherwise, it feels as though the A's are running a very tight ship this offseason aside from the most general of rumors (The A's are looking for relievers? SHOCKING.). Once the top relievers make their decisions, we should start to see teams move down the list as they try to upgrade their bullpens for the 2016 campaign.