Oakland A’s recall Trevor Cahill and Lou Trivino, DFA Trayce Thompson

The Oakland A’s called up pitcher Trevor Cahill on Tuesday, the team announced. The right-hander will start the evening’s game against the White Sox. To make room on the roster, outfielder Trayce Thompson was designated for assignment. In addition, reliever Yusmeiro Petit was placed on the family medical emergency list, and the A’s called up relief prospect Lou Trivino to replace him.

Cahill was a last-minute free agent signing, joining the team in late March after the A’s lost Jharel Cotton to Tommy John surgery. By that point the Cactus League was nearing its end, so Cahill opened the season in the minors to get in some innings and finish preparing for real MLB games. After two starts for Triple-A Nashville, he’s ready for the bigs.

This will be a homecoming for the 30-year-old Cahill, who was originally drafted by the A’s and debuted here in 2009. He was traded away after the 2011 season, and played for five other teams over the ensuing six years. Now the Southern California native is back in green and gold, in the place where he enjoyed the best season of his career — in 2010 he earned an All-Star berth and downballot Cy Young votes.

By 2014, Cahill had begun shifting from the starting rotation toward the bullpen, and in 2016 he was almost exclusively a reliever for the world champion Cubs. However, he spent the first half of 2017 as a starter for the Padres (and briefly the Royals), laying the foundation for a return to the rotation this year in Oakland.

Cahill 2017, in 14 starts: 4.38 ERA, 72 innings, 78 Ks, 33 BB, 10 HR, 4.30 FIP

As his innings crept up, Kansas City moved him to the bullpen and eventually the DL. However, even a stat line like the one above would be a massive boost to the A’s thin rotation. In particular, that strikeout rate is much higher than we saw in his first tour in Oakland, when he mostly pitched to contact with his sinker. Over the last couple years he significantly increased the use of his curveball.

Fun fact: When Cahill was traded last summer from the Padres to the Royals, reliever and new Oakland teammate Ryan Buchter went along with him in the deal.

Meanwhile, Thompson ended up being the odd man out in the crowded outfield. The A’s went through a stretch in which they didn’t need a fifth starting pitcher due to off-days, so they picked him up on waivers April 5 to add some depth to the bench. However, he didn’t play much behind Jake Smolinski, and over the last couple days Mark Canha has reemerged as a viable CF. Thompson was third in line for the last two outfield roster spots, and since he’s out of minor league options he had to be DFA’d anew and will hit waivers for the third time this season.

At the plate, Thompson only went 1-for-7 with 4 Ks. However, he did manage to notch one highlight here, making so far our best catch of the year to rob Yasiel Puig of a homer:

Finally, there’s a temporary shakeup in the bullpen. Petit apparently has a family issue to attend to, and beyond that it’s none of our business. This works the same as the bereavement list, so he must miss at least three days but can’t be off the roster more than seven days.

While Petit is out, Trivino will get his first crack at the majors. The 26-year-old right-hander made our Community Prospect List last winter, with top-notch velocity that can reach triple-digits. His fastball boasts an excellent 65 grade from MLB Pipeline. In three games for Triple-A Nashville this year, he’s retired all 13 batters he’s faced, including 8 strikeouts. Since 2016, he’s allowed only one home run in 132⅓ innings.

Trivino, 2017 AA/AAA: 3.03 ERA, 68⅓ ip, 65 Ks, 21 BB, 0 HR, 2.63 FIP

Welcome home, Trevor! Welcome to the Show, Lou! Good luck, Trayce! Best wishes, Yusmeiro!

10-day DL: RHP Liam Hendriks (groin), C Josh Phegley (fingers), OF Boog Powell (knee)

60-day DL: RHP Jharel Cotton (TJS), RHP Paul Blackburn (forearm strain)

3-7 day Family medical: RHP Yusmeiro Petit