Oakland A’s call up Michael Brady, option Zach Neal to minors

The Oakland A’s called up pitcher Michael Brady from Triple-A Nashville, the team announced Saturday morning. To make room on the 25-man roster, fellow pitcher Zach Neal was optioned back to Nashville. To make room on the 40-man roster, outfielder Ryan LaMarre was designated for assignment.

Brady was signed as a minor league free agent last winter. The 30-year-old has never pitched in the bigs, so when he takes the mound for Oakland he’ll be making his MLB debut. He has served as a swingman in Triple-A this year, and his numbers have looked good in 14 games (6 starts):

Brady, AAA: 3.67 ERA, 41⅔ ip, 42 Ks, 6 BB, 4 HR, 3.38 FIP

Note: This season accounts for over half of Brady’s overall Triple-A career.

He’s been especially good as a reliever, sporting a 1.23 ERA in eight games out of the bullpen (14⅔ ip, 13 Ks, 2 BB). Regardless of his role, though, he’s maintained an enormous K/BB rate.

But now the fun part begins. A list of facts about Brady:

• He went to UC Berkeley (SoCal native)
• He was drafted as a shortstop, but converted to pitching in 2010
• His career K/BB rate in the minors is 6.06
• Again, he’ll make his MLB debut at age 30

OK now you have my attention. Here’s Susan Slusser of the S.F. Chronicle in February with more on Brady’s backstory.

As for Neal, he was filling mop-up innings in the back of Oakland’s bullpen but not as effectively as in 2016. Last year he ate 70 innings at around a league-average level, thanks largely to limiting free passes. This season his walk rate is still virtually nil, but he’s been torched in two of his five outings as opponents have piled up hits and homers. He’ll return to Triple-A for now until needed again.

Neal, 2017: 8.56 ERA, 13⅔ ip, 10 Ks, 1 BB, 5 HR, 19 hits, 6.65 ERA

In an interesting twist, both Neal and Brady were drafted by the then-Florida Marlins, in the middle rounds of 2009 and 2010. Slusser notes in her February column that the two were teammates in the Marlins’ organization and also roomed together this spring.

Finally, LaMarre was acquired from the Angels in April to serve as emergency insurance in CF. He got into a few games while Rajai Davis was on the DL but went 0-for-7 with three strikeouts. He also isn’t hitting at all in Triple-A. We’ll find out in the next couple weeks whether he stays in the organization.

Analysis: This would be a mundane move if not for that list of facts about Brady. That makes it fun, but rebuilding-year fun. That is, the filler player called up is a compelling human interest story, as a 30-year-old rookie local product on top of a Doolittle-esque pitching backstory. And if he randomly breaks out, like Vogt or Triggs or countless other misfit toys before him, then even better, but let’s not pin hopes on that possibility.

Personally I would have kept Neal and sent out Josh Smith. In fact, I would have just DFA’d Smith, which would have taken care of the 40-man move at the same time. But at the end of the day we’re talking about who mops up the final frames in a loss, so it’s not a big deal.

Welcome Michael, congrats, and best of luck in your debut!

10-day DL: RHP Kendall Graveman, RHP Andrew Triggs, RHP Ryan Dull, RHP Bobby Wahl

60-day DL: RHP Chris Bassitt, SS Marcus Semien, OF Jake Smolinski

(Note: RHP Raul Alcantara and RHP Daniel Mengden are not listed, but they are on the minor league DL.)