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The Philadelphia Phillies have claimed right-handed relief pitcher Dan Otero off waivers from the Oakland Athletics. Otero, turning 31 next season, fell just short of enough service time to earn Super 2 status, and had one option year remaining. Including players on the 60-day disabled list, the A's now have 40 players on the 40-man roster.
After excellent 2013 and 2014 campaigns, Dan Otero's performance took a nosedive in 2015 as part of the massive bullpen collapse that played a significant part of Oakland's worst campaign since 1997. Otero was demoted to Triple-A Nashville on June 5 after a two week span in which he conceded 10 earned runs in four appearances, and finished 2015 with a 6.75 ERA.
Most notable was the number of home runs Otero started allowing, giving up seven home runs in 46⅔ major league innings in 2015 after allowing just four in 86⅔ innings in 2014, and none at all in 2013 (39 IP) or 2012 (12⅓ IP).
The timing of such a move is a bit surprising, as Otero has one option year remaining and the A's only needed to drop one player from their 40-man roster this week before Friday's activation of players on the 60-day disabled list. Otero pitched well in Triple-A Nashville, striking out 19 and walking four in 27⅔ innings, and had a 1.95 ERA. The right-hander also was in the minor leagues for long enough to fall short of the service time needed to reach arbitration has a Super 2 player, and would have earned the minimum salary.
Dan Otero tells me he's "definitely bummed" to leave #Athletics but working hard to get back where was in '14, thinks he can help #Phillies.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) November 3, 2015
Dan Otero is disappointed to leave #Athletics, but immediate focus is on newborn daughter Macey, 8 days old. "Thankful A's gave me chance."
— John Hickey (@JHickey3) November 3, 2015
The A's now have five right-handed relievers on their 40-man roster: Fernando Rodriguez, Arnold Leon, R.J. Alvarez, Ryan Dull, and Evan Scribner. Jarrod Parker may also ultimately be converted to a reliever.
