Elephant Rumblings: A’s, Giants make rare post-deadline trade

Happy Wednesday, Athletics Nation!

The A’s could use some pitching help pretty badly, and across the bay, the Giants’ outfielders are pretty banged up. Apparently, the teams decided to help each other out in making a trade that is very rare—both in that the Bay Area rivals rarely swap talent, and the trade deadline has passed.

The A’s will get veteran lefty Sean Newcomb in exchange for minor league outfielder Trenton Brooks. Steve Adams at MLB Trade Rumors pointed out that this post-deadline trade is permitted because neither player has been on a Major League 40-man roster or injured list in 2023.

30-year-old Newcomb got off to a promising big league start with the Braves in 2017, but his career has sputtered since then due to control issues, and he’s pitched fewer than 75 innings in MLB since 2020. He’s fared pretty well in Triple-A lately, posting a 3.16 ERA and 11.49 K/9 in 31 ⅓ innings. Meanwhile, however, Newcomb has continued to walk batters at an unhealthy clip of 5.74/9.

28-year-old Brooks was drafted in the 17th round by Cleveland in 2016. Yet to make an MLB appearance, the versatile outfielder signed a minor league deal with the A’s last offseason. He’s slashed a healthy .299/.405/.529 in Triple-A this season.

This cross-bay small-ball deal bears significance in one respect: Newcomb can become a free agent if he isn’t called up this season, and the A’s wouldn’t likely give Brooks away for nothing. So A’s fans can expect to see Newcomb make his debut in green and gold soon.

A’s Coverage:

• Polito: Athletics defeat Royals 5-4 in Oakland—Diaz drives in three
• Willis: Athletics recall Hogan Harris, option Tayler Scott to Las Vegas
• Adams: A’s Acquire Sean Newcomb From Giants
• Gallegos: Why the A’s sent Tyler Soderstrom back to Triple-A
• Gallegos: ‘A bulldog in the box,’ Gelof continuing to amaze
• Elliott: Athletics’ Lawrence Butler draws swagger inspiration from superstar source

MLB News & Interest:

• Greenberg: Flailing White Sox pick a perfectly hilarious time for stadium leverage play ($)
• Ghiroli: White Sox relieve executive vice president Ken Williams, general manager Rick Hahn of responsibilities ($)
• McDonald: Angels Activate Mike Trout From Injured List
• Adams: MLB Places Wander Franco On Administrative Leave
• Lockard: What the Future Stars Series-Area Code Games merger will mean for amateur baseball development ($)
• Slusser: Giants sign veteran shortstop Paul DeJong to shore up big-league infield ($)
• Britton and Sammon: Mets launch new pitching lab, finally joining high-tech arms race: ‘We’re not there yet’ ($)
• Stark: Mariners star Julio Rodríguez’s most impossible feat yet — and nobody noticed? ($)
• Polishuk: Giants Promote Kyle Harrison
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Roster moves.

Martínez on le bump today.

Sodie looking comfortable back in Triple-A.

Boyle notching Ks like there’s no tomorrow, moving up.

Miller update.

Rook caps off his big night onstage.

How many ways can the prodigiousness of Zack’s debut be expressed? Melissa finds another angle.

Full circle.

Good dogs, all.