Athletics Nation - Free agent relief pitchers: Ryan Madson, John Axford sign with Oakland A'sAn SB Nation blog for Oakland Athletics fanshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47025/an-fave.png2015-12-13T15:59:05-08:00http://www.athleticsnation.com/rss/stream/103914932015-12-13T15:59:05-08:002015-12-13T15:59:05-08:00The Evolution of John Axford's mustache
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LnqhrtD7uZmLzoox7iTXVh4SDXo=/0x0:3120x2080/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47987729/usa-today-7769845.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>You can tell this is a serious post because he's not smiling in these pictures.</p> <p>Last week, the Oakland A's signed reliever John Axford to a two-year contract. Axford has his strengths and flaws as a pitcher, and you can <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/9/9878102/oakland-athletics-sign-john-axford-free-agent" target="_blank">read about those here</a>. But that's not what we're here to talk about today. This post is about Axford's mustache, and the various forms it has taken over the years. Follow me on a photographic journey.</p>
<h3>March 10, 2010</h3>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Axford 01" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OZNOH_q7GoSr2DMChMEr5LdZ6jM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4802063/Axford_01.0.jpg">
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</p>
<p><i>Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images (cropped from original)</i></p>
<p>Just shy of his 27th birthday, Axford prepares for his rookie season with the Milwaukee Brewers. By this point he had grown up in Canada, pitched for Notre Dame, undergone Tommy John in college, graduated with a degree, been drafted twice but never signed, done a stint in the Yankees' system as an amateur free agent, and then caught on with the Brewers and finally made his MLB debut in 2009.</p>
<p>But if you'd told me he was a 23-year-old fresh out of college in this pic, I'd have believed you. The adventure begins.</p>
<h3>February 24, 2011</h3>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Axford 02" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bq03_HDwPkDF8Cf_yZfibkQ6d-k=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4802417/Axford_02.0.jpg">
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</p>
<p><i>Photo credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images</i></p>
<p>After saving 24 games as a rookie, a little bit of attitude starts to sprout on his face as he enters his sophomore season.</p>
<h3>July 20, 2011</h3>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Axford 03" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sl9wroYKV54F62E8VrLkMZbNiVk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4802603/Axford_03.0.jpg">
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<p><i>Photo credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images</i></p>
<p>In this photo, he is in the middle of earning his 26th save in 28 attempts, and he'll go on to lead the league with 46 that year. As the saves pile up, the mustache grows.</p>
<h3>February 26, 2012</h3>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Axford 04" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-yGDZd16lCQXa4ZO83aT5YONjvU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4802881/Axford_04.0.jpg">
</figure>
</p>
<p><i>Photo credit: Rich Pilling/Getty Images (cropped from original)</i></p>
<p>He ended up receiving votes for both Cy Young and MVP after that enormous 2011 campaign. He entered 2012 as an elite closer, and he grew the shaggy hair and complicated mustache to prove it.</p>
<h3>May 27, 2012</h3>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Axford 05" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OAn5GEk9HajvJn_C2MNkkkm7R4w=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4802983/Axford_05.0.jpg">
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<p><i>Photo credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images</i></p>
<p>What happened?? This is Axford doing his best impression of catcher Bryan Anderson. The mustache is gone, shifting the eyes to his flowing mane of hair.</p>
<h3>September 10, 2012</h3>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Axford 06" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/oeqEPJC8MjiqFmuPLzbsbiDf_5M=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4803001/Axford_06.0.jpg">
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<p><i>Photo credit: Mike McGinnis/Getty Images</i></p>
<p>Starting fresh. In July 2012, Axford <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/NwFhyXPj41/" target="_blank">chopped it all off</a> and made a donation to Locks of Love (or at least, that's the implication I'm getting from the Instagram post that I've linked there). Given that he had <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8175104/francisco-rodriguez-john-axford-milwaukee-brewers-closer" target="_blank">lost his job as the closer</a> a couple weeks prior, perhaps a new 'do was a good strategy. He quickly regained the 9th inning and went 18-for-20 in saves in the final two months.</p>
<h3>February 17, 2013</h3>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Axford 07" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/o-S5IZ8WRybFOKj6kHBCsYlgvzQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4803497/Axford_07.0.jpg">
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<p><i>Photo credit: Rich Pilling/Getty Images (cropped from original)</i></p>
<p>The mustache had lost its luster the previous season, so this time he tries a full beard instead. He loses his closer job <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9151150/john-axford-loses-job-milwaukee-brewers-closer-now" target="_blank">almost immediately</a> and doesn't earn a single save the entire season. D'oh.</p>
<h3>October 27, 2013</h3>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Axford 08" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sG15ztiCju6vm579SbrhXELYUL8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4803671/Axford_08.0.jpg">
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<p><i>Photo credit: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</i></p>
<p>The beard hasn't changed much, but other stuff has. For starters, he's on the Cardinals now, after a late-August trade. Furthermore, he's pitching in the World Series in this pic, where he ended up making two scoreless appearances and striking out 5 of the 8 batters he faced. But mostly, the socks. Respect the socks.</p>
<h3>February 24, 2014</h3>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Axford 09" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/X6n3a9dfuZ6qo7F_WdqaSuGXrSQ=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4803941/Axford_09.0.jpg">
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<p><i>Photo credit: Rob Tringali/Getty Images (cropped from original)</i></p>
<p>Okay, the beard didn't work. Back to just a mustache. This time, he goes for the horseshoe, more awesomely known as the asskicker. Some people mistakenly refer to this as a Fu Manchu, but there are very real differences. The Fu Manchu doesn't connect above the mouth like the asskicker does, and it also hangs down past the jawline like a pair of tendrils. The asskicker is just a regular mustache that keeps extending down until it gets to your chin, like the circle beard but without the goatee part. The most famous example of this is certainly Hulk Hogan, though Luis Tiant and Goose Gossage also had prominent ones (Goose's was bushier than most).</p>
<p>It is not a coincidence that this is the pic that looks most like a mugshot. That is the power of the asskicker. It might be the perfect mustache for a closer.</p>
<h3>September 13, 2014</h3>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Axford 10" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QKmll4e05uwKLbp6vMM6FH53acM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4804091/Axford_10.0.jpg">
</figure>
</p>
<p><i>Photo credit: Joe Sargent/Getty Images (cropped from original)</i></p>
<p>Welp. The asskicker mustache didn't work, as he <a href="http://m.mlb.com/news/article/75017718/tribe-temporarily-pulls-axford-from-closers-role" target="_blank">lost the closer role in May</a> and was ultimately claimed by the Pirates on waivers. I think that when a player gets claimed by the Pirates, the transaction logs should say that his old team got pillaged. Arrrr. Anyway, after several weeks at sea with Pittsburgh, the full beard made a comeback. But as with the Brewers in 2013, he recorded zero saves with the beard for the Pirates.</p>
<h3>August 5, 2015</h3>
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<img alt="Axford 11" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nJH42sono6KbE3wXbOoFbIth7iM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4804301/Axford_11.0.jpg">
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<p><i>Photo credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images (cropped from original)</i></p>
<p>Now in the mountainy wilderness of Colorado, the man with "Ax" in his name finally sprouts the beard of a lumberjack. He'd gone full beard before, but this profile shot shows how much longer it became in Colorado. Did the thin air accelerate the hair's growth? I mean, probably not, I don't think that's how beards work. This is almost a year after the last picture, so he probably just didn't shave for a while. What a weird question for you to ask. Anyway, he finally broke the Curse of the Full Beard and saved 25 games for the Rockies.</p>
<h3>April 2016?</h3>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PlayersTribune">@PlayersTribune</a> He's had a lot of variations, but this one <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnAxford">@JohnAxford</a> had is one of our favorites! <a href="https://t.co/43OBgnqQqw">pic.twitter.com/43OBgnqQqw</a></p>
— BHSC (@BHSCouncil) <a href="https://twitter.com/BHSCouncil/status/669295237085327360">November 24, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
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<p>The last time Axford was on one of Rollie Fingers' old teams, he waxed up the handlebars. Will he do it again? We can only hope. (Note: After a bit of research, I believe this pic is from <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/MIN/MIN201005220.shtml" target="_blank">May 22, 2010</a>, which means this came early in his rookie year. Why did he ever get rid of it??)</p>
<p>This has been a documentation of the evolution of John Axford's mustache during his MLB career, because it's Sunday and the next A's game won't be played for another three and a half months. I, for one, am terribly excited to see what whiskers he chooses to sport next season.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/13/10040932/john-axford-mustache-oakland-athleticsAlex Hall2015-12-11T12:59:00-08:002015-12-11T12:59:00-08:00A's officially sign relievers Madson, Axford
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<img alt="Reliever Ryan Madson has signed a three-year, $22 million deal with further incentives to pitch for the Oakland Athletics." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aq8o8SkkIzSX17XR3QpVrpYUzgY=/0x29:2331x1583/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47868037/usa-today-8531391.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Reliever Ryan Madson has signed a three-year, $22 million deal with further incentives to pitch for the Oakland Athletics. | John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Oakland Athletics have officially announced the contracts of relievers Ryan Madson and John Axford after both completed physicals on Thursday:</p>
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<blockquote data-partner="tweetdeck" class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Athletics?src=hash">#Athletics</a> agree to terms with RHP Ryan Madson on a three-year contract and RHP John Axford on a two-year deal <a href="https://t.co/gg5LuEqH2a">pic.twitter.com/gg5LuEqH2a</a></p>
— Oakland Athletics (@Athletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/Athletics/status/675412284919799808">December 11, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>The A's will pay Madson $22 million over the three years, with<a href="http://www.sfchronicle.com/athletics/article/Ryan-Madson-s-contract-breakdown-Ned-Yost-6682531.php?t=26b0a0aac03d4cb4da&cmpid=twitter-premium"> the <i>San Francisco Chronicle</i> reporting the breakdown</a> as:</p>
<ul>
<li><span>Signing bonus: $500,000</span></li>
<li><span>2015: $6.5 million</span></li>
<li><span>2016: $7.5 million</span></li>
<li><span>2017: $7.5 million</span></li>
<li><span>Incentives: $250,000 each for finishing 30, 35, and 40 games, and $500,000 for finishing 45 games, each year.</span></li>
</ul>
<p>The A's will pay Axford $10 million over the two years, with up to $4 million in games finished bonuses<a href="https://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/674657605634117632"> according to Joel Sherman of the <i>New York Post</i></a><i>. </i>How he gets there is a little complicated:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">axford breakdown: 4.5M '16, 5.5M '17. 1.5M incentives. '17 base in increases by 50 pct of incentives earned. 500K if traded</p>
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeymanCBS/status/675478998802038785">December 12, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>So if he earns all $1.5 million in his 2016 incentives, his 2017 base salary would go up $750,000. He would have another chance to earn $1.5 million more in 2017 bonuses, and if he is also traded along the way he earns an assignment bonus of $500,000. That adds up to $4.25 million, so I'll assume Sherman was rounding, I guess.</p>
<p>Oakland's 40-man roster now stands at a full 40 players after the signings, and here's how all 40 players arrived to the A's:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://i.imgur.com/FwCkqH8.png"><img width="100%" src="http://i.imgur.com/FwCkqH8.png"></a></p>
<p>Current payroll for the A's stands at around $77 million <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/9/9881862/next-moves-oakland-athletics-after-brett-lawrie-trade-and-signing-all-the-relievers">as they consider their next moves</a>.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/11/9908068/oakland-as-officially-sign-ryan-madson-and-john-axfordJeremy F. Koo2015-12-11T07:00:08-08:002015-12-11T07:00:08-08:00Oakland A's bullpen goes full Astros, redux
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<img alt="Reliever John Axford will soon sign a two-year, $10 million deal with the Oakland Athletics." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OWnZwiBTCB0lvFZDMlI77RJf0tY=/0x513:3372x2761/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47850119/usa-today-8422825.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Reliever John Axford will soon sign a two-year, $10 million deal with the Oakland Athletics. | Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Athletics offseason this year so far resembles that of the Houston Astros, who completed a bullpen revamp of their own.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Oakland Athletics</a> should soon officially announce the signings of right-handed relief pitchers <span>Ryan Madson</span> and <span>John Axford</span>. Madson signed a three-year deal totalling $22 million while Axford signed a two-year deal at up to $10 million.</p>
<p>The moves wrap up an early offseason period devoted to acquiring pitching, both rotation and relief, for the active roster. Right-hander <span>Liam Hendriks</span> and left-hander <span>Marc Rzepczynski</span> were acquired in trades while starting pitcher <span>Rich Hill</span> signed a one-year, $6 million deal.</p>
<p>Only one of Oakland's top seven relievers in relief innings pitched in 2015 is slated to return next year, Fernando Rodriguez. Closer <span>Sean Doolittle</span> also returns; injuries in 2015 limited him to 13 2/3 innings. To illustrate the turnover, compare the ERA and FIP of the 2015 bullpen to the projected 2016, as well as park- and league-adjusted ERA- and FIP- (for both stats, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/library/pitching/era-fip-xfip/">100 is average and less than 100 is better than average</a>):</p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<colgroup> <col width="32" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1365; width: 32pt;"> <col width="106" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4522; width: 106pt;"> <col width="29" span="2" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1237; width: 29pt;"> <col width="30" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1280; width: 30pt;"> <col width="26" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1109; width: 26pt;"> <col width="42" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1792; width: 42pt;"> <col width="115" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4906; width: 115pt;"> <col width="29" span="2" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1237; width: 29pt;"> <col width="30" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1280; width: 30pt;"> <col width="26" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1109; width: 26pt;"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td colspan="12" height="15" class="xl63" width="523" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; width: 523pt;"><b>A's bullpen, 2015-2016 comparison (all stats as RP in 2015)</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td colspan="6" height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><b>2015</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" colspan="6" class="xl63"><b>2016</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td colspan="2" height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><b>(order by relief IP)</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>ERA</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>FIP</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>ERA-</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>FIP-</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" colspan="2" class="xl63"><b>(ordered by role)</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>ERA</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>FIP</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>ERA-</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>FIP-</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><b>RP1</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Evan Scribner</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">4.35</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">4.33</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">111</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">109</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>CL</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Sean Doolittle</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">3.95</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">2.99</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">101</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">75</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><b>RP2</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Fernando Rodriguez</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">3.84</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">3.08</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">98</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">77</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>SU</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Ryan Madson</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">2.13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">3.09</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">53</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">77</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><b>RP3</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Fernando Abad</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">4.15</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">5.50</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">106</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">139</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>SU</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Liam Hendriks</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">2.92</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">2.13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">72</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">52</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><b>RP4</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Dan Otero</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">6.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">4.40</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">173</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">111</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>MR</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">John Axford</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">4.20</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">3.57</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">92</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">85</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><b>RP5</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Drew Pomeranz</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">2.61</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">3.01</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">67</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">76</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>MR</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Fernando Rodriguez</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">3.84</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">3.08</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">98</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">77</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><b>RP6</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Tyler Clippard</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">2.79</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">3.96</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">72</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">100</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>LOOGY</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Marc Rzepczynski</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">5.66</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">3.36</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">148</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">85</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><b>RP7</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Edward Mujica</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">4.81</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">4.89</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">123</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">123</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>LR</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Sean Nolin (as starter)</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">5.28</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">5.13</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">135</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">129</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><b>RP8</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Pat Venditte</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">4.40</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">4.15</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">113</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">104</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>RP8</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Ryan Dull</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">4.24</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">5.37</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">108</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">135</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><b>RP9</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Arnold Leon</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">4.39</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">4.18</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">112</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">105</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>RP9</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">R.J. Alvarez</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">9.90</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">7.33</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">253</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">185</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" class="xl63" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;"><b>RP10</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">Eric O'Flaherty</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">5.91</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64">4.17</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">151</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">105</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63"><b>RP10</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl63">J.B. Wendelken</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" colspan="4" class="xl63">AA/AAA</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Depth has to be a concern in 2016, of course, with Dull, Alvarez, and Wendelken the remaining depth pieces on the A's 40-man. Arnold Leon is out of options, and he could be waived at the end of spring training as well. But considering the front line players weren't very good for the A's in the first place, 2016's projected bullpen is a massive improvement.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=RP">FanGraphs' depth charts</a> based on the Steamer projection system project the A's will get 3.6 WAR out of their bullpen. This would have been good enough for 7th in the American League in 2015, up from -0.1 and 13th last year.</p>
<h4>Going full <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Astros</a> redux</h4>
<p>I want to draw your attention back to <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/10/13/9500827/athletics-could-go-full-astros-on-their-bullpen">the idea of going "full Astros" on a bullpen revamp</a>. The Astros took a club that was 13th in the AL in WAR (0.2) and last in ERA (4.80) in 2014 and jumped to one that was second in WAR (5.3) and fourth in ERA (3.27) in 2015. To do that, they gave out $30.5 million for five seasons out of two right-handed pitchers, <span>Luke Gregerson</span> (1.2 WAR) and <span>Pat Neshek</span> (0.3), $1 million to LOOGY Joe Thatcher (0.3), and claimed another right-hander, <span>Will Harris</span> (0.3), off waivers.</p>
<p>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3608425/mustreads.css">
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<p>The three quality members of the 2014 Astros bullpen, <span>Tony Sipp</span>, <span>Josh Fields</span>, and <span>Chad Qualls</span>, gave good to great performances once again in 2015 to round out the bullpen. The Astros went from giving 298 innings to 4+ ERA relievers to 92 innings, over half of which belonged to Chad Qualls.</p>
<p>To fill in the rest of the squad after spending heavily on the bullpen, the Astros:</p>
<p>(1) signed an infielder that was good enough until his injury let their star prospect pass him up on the depth chart,</p>
<p>(2) an outfielder on a short-term deal with interesting upside for low dollars in <span>Colby Rasmus</span>,</p>
<p>(3) acquired a bad body DH (11 triples though!) that ultimately only had a 99 wRC+ in <span>Evan Gattis</span>, and</p>
<p>(4) made a few other moves to shore up depth, like acquire <span>Hank Conger</span> and <span>Luis Valbuena</span>.</p>
<p>For a team that went from 70 wins to 86, the Astros did not make any huge free agent splashes in the offseason and they gave the prospects they've been building up a chance to succeed.</p>
<p>The A's have the task of knocking down 314 relief innings given to 4+ ERA relievers in 2015. To accomplish that, they've spent $32 million for five seasons out of two right-handed pitchers, obtained a LOOGY in Marc Rzepczynski, and picked up four seasons of another potentially elite right-handed setup man, Liam Hendriks, in trade for Jesse Chavez's walk year.</p>
<p>Two quality members of the 2015 A's bullpen, Sean Doolittle and Fernando Rodriguez, remain. I've penciled in Sean Nolin as the long reliever over the similarly out-of-options <span>Felix Doubront</span> because Nolin has greater team control remaining. Nolin did not pitch in relief at the major league level last season, so he's a little bit of a wild card here overcoming injury and a reduction in velocity perhaps caused by that long layoff.</p>
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<p>To fill in the rest of the squad after spending heavily on the bullpen, the A's:</p>
<p>(1) have already traded for literally the same infielder in Jed Lowrie that should be good enough until an injury on the squad opens the door for an infield prospect to be called up like Joey Wendle or <span>Chad Pinder</span>,</p>
<p>(2) potentially will sign an outfielder on a short-term deal with interesting upside <a href="http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/hyun-soo-kim-korean-outfielder-free-agent-hot-stove-cj-nitkowski-121015">for low dollars in Hyun-soo Kim</a>,</p>
<p>(3) will hope their bad body DH, <span>Billy Butler</span>, bounces back after a 99 wRC+ season, and</p>
<p>(4) will make a few moves to shore up other areas like the Rich Hill acquisition, such as sign another starting pitcher.</p>
<p>To go from 68 wins to 86, it doesn't look like the A's are going to make any huge free agent splashes in the offseason, and they're keeping to their commitment to let their infield prospects actually contribute to the major league squad as soon as they're ready.</p>
<h4>Emphasizing velocity</h4>
<p>That the A's have gone after relievers that greatly increase the bullpen's velocity profile has been extensively covered elsewhere, so I won't reinvent the wheel except to take note of a few interesting tidbits and ask you to read the rest.</p>
<p>First, <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/athletics-add-axford-revamp-bullpen-velocity/">from FanGraphs' Eno Sarris</a> after the two-year, $10 million deal for John Axford was reported:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>And the trio [of Madson, Hendriks, and Axford] comes in averaging 95 mph on their fastball as a group. That's important, too, given the fact that the Athletics had the third-worst bullpen velocity in the game last year. They should be able to improve that standing to at least league average, especially since they've also shipped out Evan Scribner and his 91 mph fastball in the meantime.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>A's manager Bob Melvin <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/athletics/article/Oakland-A-s-leave-Nashville-with-better-6689511.php">told the <i>San Francisco Chronicle</i></a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"One of the things we probably didn't have that some of the other bullpens had were hard throwers, guys that come in and miss bats, throwing 95, 96 miles an hour," Melvin said. "We had a couple of guys, but it seems like most bullpens, every time that bullpen door opens up, someone is coming out of the bullpen throwing hard, so that was key."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It's a new look bullpen in Oakland, and that by itself is the most refreshing thing of all.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/11/9889530/oakland-athletics-bullpen-revamp-goes-full-astros-reduxJeremy F. Koo2015-12-09T08:48:00-08:002015-12-09T08:48:00-08:00Oakland A's sign John Axford for 2 years, $10MM
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bT6GaT8jZPRrdkFFwfdxgAEMBgE=/0x37:2480x1690/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47836553/usa-today-8566659.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Oakland Athletics have signed free agent relief pitcher John Axford, <a href="https://twitter.com/susanslusser/status/674629825244581889" target="_blank">according to Susan Slusser of the S.F. Chronicle</a>. Jon Heyman <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/8cj58leh9h6twp7/Screenshot%202015-12-09%2010.36.34.png?dl=0">had reported a much lower dollar figure earlier</a>, but he apparently missed a zero, according to Joel Sherman of the <i>New York Daily News</i>:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Axford gets 2 yrs at $10M with chance to earn $4M in game finished bonuses from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Athletics?src=hash">#Athletics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/susanslusser">@susanslusser</a> had signing 1st</p>
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Joelsherman1/status/674657605634117632">December 9, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<p>The deal is pending a physical.</p>
<p>Axford spent 2015 with the Colorado Rockies and has pitched for five different teams overall. The right-hander has substantial experience as a closer, having racked up at least 20 saves in four different seasons and 141 for his career. He's also durable, as he's thrown at least 50 innings each year since 2010 and has never hit the disabled list. Armed with a 96-mph fastball, a curve, and a slider, he has a tendency to post high rates of strikeouts (10.6 K/9 career) and walks (4.5 BB/9) and can also limit hits and homers when he's on his game.</p>
<p>Given that track record, it's easy to see why the A's would be interested in Axford this winter. After losing Sean Doolittle for most of 2015, the team is making sure to stock some other relievers with closing experience as backups in case Doolittle misses any more time. They've unofficially <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/6/9857044/oakland-as-sign-ryan-madson-to-three-year-22-million-deal">come to terms with Ryan Madson</a>, who saved 32 games for the Phillies in 2011, and now they have a second set-up man who can step into the 9th inning when necessary.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Axford has proven to be consistently inconsistent over his career. His 4.20 ERA last year was good for a 111 ERA+, but that was the first time his ERA had been better than average since 2011. In particular, he has a tendency to go through slumps and get bumped from the closer role:</p>
<p>- <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8175104/francisco-rodriguez-john-axford-milwaukee-brewers-closer" target="_blank">2012</a>, loses Brewers job in July<br>- <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9151150/john-axford-loses-job-milwaukee-brewers-closer-now" target="_blank">2013</a>, loses Brewers job in April<br>- <a href="http://m.mlb.com/news/article/75017718/tribe-temporarily-pulls-axford-from-closers-role" target="_blank">2014</a>, loses Indians job in May<br>- <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_28568679/john-axford-out-rockies-closer" target="_blank">2015</a>, loses Rockies job in July (later regained it)</p>
<p>The last time he made it through a full season as a closer was 2011, when he notched 46 saves for the Brewers to go along with a 1.95 ERA and downballot votes for both Cy Young and MVP. Last season with Colorado, the hammer came after a stretch of five outings that included four blown saves and a fifth game in which he entered with a tie and took the loss. He fought his way back to the 9th inning, though, and went 9-for-10 in saves the rest of the year. Overall he converted 82% of his save situations (25 saves, 2 holds, 6 blown), just under his 85% career rate.</p>
<p>But at age 33 next season, Axford will not be asked to be the anchor in Oakland, or at least not as a first resort. He slots into an increasingly talented unit that now includes Doolittle, Madson, Liam Hendriks, Marc Rzepczynski, and Fernando Rodriguez. On Tuesday, the A's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/8/9874072/athletics-trade-rumors-evan-scribner-deal-mariners">traded Evan Scribner to the Mariners</a>; Scribner led the bullpen in innings last year, meaning that Oakland has now rid themselves of seven of their eight most-used relievers from 2015 (only Rodriguez remains).</p>
<p><b>Instant reaction: Mixed.</b> I don't like the high walk rate or the annual meltdowns, but I do like the idea of a former closer in the 7th inning rather than the likes of Otero and Abad and Scribner. I also like that there's some heat in the pen where there wasn't before. Axford has his flaws, but if he's only being asked to be third- or fourth-best reliever in the pen then you could do a lot worse. He's also got top-notch mustache potential.</p>
<blockquote lang="en" data-conversation="none" class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PlayersTribune">@PlayersTribune</a> He's had a lot of variations, but this one <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnAxford">@JohnAxford</a> had is one of our favorites! <a href="https://t.co/43OBgnqQqw">pic.twitter.com/43OBgnqQqw</a></p>
— BHSC (@BHSCouncil) <a href="https://twitter.com/BHSCouncil/status/669295237085327360">November 24, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
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https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/9/9878102/oakland-athletics-sign-john-axford-free-agentAlex Hall2015-12-08T22:24:00-08:002015-12-08T22:24:00-08:00A's close to signing Axford, says SF Chronicle
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zWVN127TQR3OTFFdQ2U_Vlf-EeE=/0x0:4728x3152/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47835519/usa-today-8758184.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Athletics are targetting John Axford, a free agent reliever with late-inning experience.</p> <p>The Oakland Athletics are "close to signing free-agent reliever John Axford," <a href="http://www.sfchronicle.com/athletics/article/More-on-A-s-looming-Brett-Lawrie-deal-John-6685549.php?t=0d027346b23d4cb4da&cmpid=twitter-premium">reports the <i>San Francisco Chronicle</i>'s Susan Slusser</a>.<i> </i>Earlier Tuesday evening, <a href="http://www.sfchronicle.com/athletics/article/A-s-will-add-starter-maybe-another-reliever-6685044.php?t=4c99298bec3d4cb4da&cmpid=twitter-premium">Slusser reported</a> that Oakland was"moving in on free-agent reliever <span>John Axford</span> as the fourth addition of the winter to the bullpen."</p>
<p>The right-handed Axford, turning 33 next season, elected free agency after he was designated for assignment in the offseason after earning a major league salary of $2.6 million after he made the Rockies major league roster for 2015. <a href="http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2016.html">The MLB Trade Rumors model</a> projected he would earn $6.5 million in his final arbitration year on the strength of the 25 saves he collected for Colorado in 2015 and his previous career history as a closer.</p>
<p>Axford made 60 appearances for the <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rockies</a> with a 4.20 ERA, which represents a 111 ERA+ given the park effects at Coors Field. He struck out 62 and walked 32 and owns a career ERA+ of 116 over parts of seven seasons between the <a href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Brewers</a>, <a href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cardinals</a>, <a href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Indians</a>, <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pirates</a>, and Rockies.</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/8/9877368/athletics-free-agent-rumors-john-axford-an-oakland-targetJeremy F. Koo2015-12-07T11:32:28-08:002015-12-07T11:32:28-08:00A's run at Lowe shows FA relievers still in play
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<img alt="Mark Lowe has reportedly signed with the Detroit Tigers after the A's made a run at him." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/h2jaGvlUTKzSnWitDcHeMkDE438=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47822395/GettyImages-492324170.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mark Lowe has reportedly signed with the Detroit Tigers after the A's made a run at him. | Ronald Martinez/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Athletics made a run at free agent reliever Mark Lowe, according to Ken Rosenthal at FOX Sports. What does that indicate for Oakland's moves this week?</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Oakland Athletics</a> tried to sign free agent reliever <span>Mark Lowe</span>, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Source: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Athletics?src=hash">#Athletics</a> made run at Mark Lowe. Received better two-year offer from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tigers?src=hash">#Tigers</a>. Deal believed to be worth $6.5M over two.</p>
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/673926111823273985">December 7, 2015</a>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Correction: Lowe deal with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tigers?src=hash">#Tigers</a> expected to be two years, $13M or close to it. Two times $6.5M as opposed to a total of $6.5M.</p>
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/673933085566701568">December 7, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Lowe's signing comes about 24 hours after the A's reportedly<a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/6/9857044/oakland-as-sign-ryan-madson-to-three-year-22-million-deal"> completed signing Madson to a three-year, $22 million deal pending a physical</a>, with word that the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a> were nearing completion of a deal Sunday night. Late on Sunday, Rosenthal offered this explanation for the A's giving Madson Oakland's first three-year deal to a free agent reliever since signing <span>Arthur Rhodes</span> before the 2004 season:</p>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Part of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Athletics?src=hash">#Athletics</a>’ logic in signing Madson is that they can’t afford big FA hitter. Spend money where they can. Looking at starters too.</p>
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/673679322595647490">December 7, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>That the A's were still a player for Lowe <i>after </i>coming to terms with Madson indicates that the A's are still looking to make splashes in the free agent reliever market, especially for right-handers. We're now entering the second- and third-tier free agent reliever signings, which should be much less expensive than the O'Day-Soria-Madson trio at the top of the market. <span>Tyler Clippard</span> is the only one I could see hanging around in that top tier, and then you start to drop down into that second tier of relievers.</p>
<p>If Oakland is concentrating its dollars on having more right-handed bullpen options, there are plenty to choose from:</p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<colgroup> <col width="94" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4010; width: 94pt;"> <col width="45" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1920; width: 45pt;"> <col width="53" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2261; width: 53pt;"> <col width="34" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1450; width: 34pt;"> <col width="48" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2048; width: 48pt;"> <col width="187" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 7978; width: 187pt;"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td colspan="6" height="15" width="461" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt; width: 461pt;"><b>Signed free agent right-handed relievers and top unsigned relievers</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="30" style="height: 30.0pt;">
<td height="30" style="text-align: center; height: 30pt;"><b></b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Signed?</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Official?</b></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Years</b></td>
<td class="xl63" width="48" style="width: 48pt;">
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Money</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>($MM)</b></div>
</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><b>Options/Incentives</b></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Darren O'Day</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">BAL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Pending</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">4</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64" align="right">$31.00</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Joakim Soria</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">KC</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Pending</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64" align="right">$25.00</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Mutual 4th</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Ryan Madson</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">OAK</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Pending</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">3</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64" align="right">$22.00</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Up to $1.25 based on games finished</td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Mark Lowe</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">DET</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Pending</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">2</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64" align="right">$13.00</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Trevor Cahill</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">CHC</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Pending</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64" align="right">$4.25</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Jim Johnson</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">ATL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Yes</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64" align="right">$2.50</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Bud Norris</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">ATL</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Yes</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64" align="right">$2.50</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Justin De Fratus</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">SEA</td>
<td style="text-align: center;">Yes</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" align="right">1</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" class="xl64" align="right">$0.75</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Tyler Clippard</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Tommy Hunter</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Steve Cishek</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Shawn Kelley</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Jonathan Broxton</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Joe Blanton</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Matt Albers</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Matt Belisle</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Blaine Boyer</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
</tr>
<tr height="15" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="15" style="text-align: center; height: 15pt;">Carlos Villanueva</td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><br></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/7/9865114/athletics-tigers-mark-lowe-free-agent-relievers-ryan-madsonJeremy F. Koo2015-12-06T08:27:00-08:002015-12-06T08:27:00-08:00A's sign Ryan Madson, reports ESPN
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/j_gyObw04abZh3juCgtdJY4tT30=/0x69:3484x2392/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47811601/GettyImages-471885888.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ed Zurga/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Athletics appear to have outbid the Dodgers and other teams to sign right-handed reliever Ryan Madson.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Oakland Athletics</a> have agreed to terms with free agent reliever <span>Ryan Madson</span> for a three-year, $22 million deal, pending a physical, <a href="https://twitter.com/jcrasnick/status/673531345491140609">tweets Jerry Crasnick of ESPN</a>. The deal has also been confirmed <a href="https://twitter.com/susanslusser/status/673548950327037952">by <i>San Francisco Chronicle</i> A's beat writer Susan Slusser</a>. The A's have not yet officially confirmed.</p>
<p>In Madson, the A's get one of the top tier relievers on the free agent market not long after the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.camdenchat.com/">Baltimore Orioles</a> reportedly re-signed <span>Darren O'Day</span> to <a href="http://www.camdenchat.com/2015/12/6/9856786/orioles-sign-darren-oday-to-four-year-31m-contract">a four-year, $31 million deal</a> (though <a href="https://twitter.com/DODay56/status/673565687546298369">O'Day says such reports are premature</a>). Madson had a 2.13 ERA with 58 strikeouts and 14 walks, picking up where he seems to leave off after the first nine seasons of his career with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Philadelphia Phillies</a>, ending in 2011.</p>
<p>Madson's signing comes with some risks, not the least of which is that Madson did not pitch pretty much at all from 2012-14. He underwent Tommy John surgery after tearing his elbow ligament shortly after signing with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Cincinnati Reds</a> in 2012, and getting released from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.halosheaven.com/">Los Angeles Angels</a> after <a href="http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/08/05/angels-release-injured-reliever-ryan-madson/">suffering numerous setbacks in his recovery in 2013</a>. Madson's comeback story is detailed in an <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article38138277.html">outstanding profile by Andy McCullough of the <i>Kansas City Star</i></a>.</p>
<p>What's encouraging though is that Madson actually threw his fastball harder as the season went on:</p>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ryan Madson started the regular season averaging 93 mph, finished averaging 96 mph (via <a href="https://twitter.com/brooksbaseball">@brooksbaseball</a>) <a href="https://t.co/4jWHpf828G">pic.twitter.com/4jWHpf828G</a></p>
— Beyond the Box Score (@BtBScore) <a href="https://twitter.com/BtBScore/status/673550257897123841">December 6, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Hopefully what will come out in the next few hours as teams start to arrive for the Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee is what other teams offered Madson. One interesting piece out of the Darren O'Day negotiations is that O'Day was swayed by Baltimore's willingness to offer a fourth year over a higher average annual value contract offer from the Washington Nationals (<a href="https://twitter.com/danconnollysun/status/673544526699454464">Dan O'Connolly, <i>Baltimore Sun</i></a><i>)</i>. Could something similar have happened for the A's against others, including the Dodgers?</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/6/9857044/oakland-as-sign-ryan-madson-to-three-year-22-million-dealJeremy F. Koo2015-12-05T19:21:51-08:002015-12-05T19:21:51-08:00Bullpen overhaul has begun, but it's not done yet
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/s5sreqiJ_2visYgmVBQVBfvOzOY=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47809707/GettyImages-490064390.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jason O. Watson/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Of all the things that were wrong with the 2015 Oakland A's, the bullpen was probably the biggest weakness. Even when the other parts of the team managed to string together a good game, the relievers usually found a way to hand the win back to the opponent. They were the Bringer Of Rain On Your Parade. To add insult to injury, the unit seemed strong entering the season, full of pitchers with good track records and recent success whom most of us trusted, so this failure was relatively unexpected.</p>
<p>This analysis of the bullpen will be split into three sections. In the first, we will face our demons and look at how statistically awful Oakland's relievers were last year. Next, we'll identify the key culprits. And finally, we'll check in on the current in-progress overhaul to see how it's going and where it might head next.</p>
<h3>The 2015 carnage</h3>
<p>To begin, here's where the pen ranked in various areas. Each of these stats is limited on its own, and some of them are only useful as measures of the past rather than predictors of the future, but together they give a diverse illustration of all the ways the relievers stunk. This section is stat-heavy and it is depressing, two things you might not like, but be brave. This is will be cathartic. Let the numbers wash over you like dugout sewage.</p>
<p><b>- 28th in relievers' ERA.</b> There were only eight teams whose bullpens finished over 4.00, and the A's clocked in at 4.63, just a hair better than Atlanta (4.69) and Colorado (4.70). The next-closest team was a quarter-run better than Oakland, and that was the Tigers, who have been notorious in recent years for their trainwreck relief corps. The three best teams were below 3.00 (Pit, KC, StL).</p>
<p><b>- 1st in percentage of inherited runners scored.</b> They inherited 257 runners and let 88 of them score, for a rate of 34.2% that was juuust ahead of the runner-up Mets. League-average was 30%, and the Giants and Pirates led with rates of 21%. When you let an inherited runner score, it counts against the ERA of the pitcher who let him get on base, so the bullpen's awful ERA is probably even a bit optimistic.</p>
<p><b>- 3rd in blown saves.</b> Oakland blew 25 saves, tied with Detroit and Colorado; the Rays (27) and Braves (26) led the league. That only tells half the story, though, because the A's were also dead last in save situations -- their total of 100 was less than half of the league-leading Rays (204). So, the Rays "led" in blown saves, but compared with Oakland they only blew two of their 104 extra chances. The Braves blew one extra lead in 62 extra chances, the Rockies tied the A's despite an extra 63 save situations, and even the Tigers had 16 extra chances. As you might imagine, this means the A's were dead last in saves (28) and holds (42); the Giants led MLB with 116 holds. I could write another 1,000 words about how awful these stats are, but an A's reliever would just knock a glass of water all over my keyboard while trying to click the "save" button and lose my work.</p>
<p><b>- 30th in Win Probability Added (WPA).</b> Every appearance that a pitcher makes either increases or decreases the team's win expectancy, depending on how well they pitch -- get an out and you've increased the WPA, allow a hit/run/etc. and you've lowered it. The higher-leverage the situation is, the more you can affect the team's win expectancy with each at-bat, so relievers can have a big effect in a short outing. There were only eight teams whose bullpens posted overall negative values in WPA, meaning that their pens hurt them more than helped them. Three of those pens cost their teams at least three wins apiece, including the Marlins (-3.18) and Braves (-3.91). The A's total was -7.80, <i>twice as bad as the second-worst team</i>. That's the worst bullpen WPA mark since the 2010 D'Backs (-8.37). I took it back to 1990 and the 2015 A's were still 6th-worst on the list <i>in the last quarter-century.</i></p>
<p><b>- 29th in WPA/LI.</b> This stat is an offshoot of WPA. It's also called Context-Neutral Wins, and you can get the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/library/misc/wpa-li/">full scoop at Fangraphs</a>. It removes the consideration of how high-leverage the game situations were (LI = Leverage Index), so a homer allowed in a blowout hurts the same as a homer allowed in a save situation. It's more reflective of talent level, whereas WPA on its own hinges more on the timing of events as well. Only 10 bullpens had negative values this year, and only four were at -2 or worse. The A's were at -3.17, ahead of only the Braves at -5.65. (Royals led MLB at +7.66.)</p>
<p><b>- 29th in Clutch rating.</b> As for <a target="_blank" href="http://www.fangraphs.com/library/misc/clutch/">Clutch rating</a>, it's almost the opposite of WPA/LI. It starts with how well a player performed in clutch spots, and then subtracts that player's general talent level, leaving a number that reflects how much <i>better</i> the player was "in the clutch." So, if you're a mediocre player who rises to the occasion, you'll have a high score. If you're normally a star but you always choke when it matters, you'll have a low score. Only 10 bullpens had negative Clutch ratings, and only five were at -2 or worse. The A's were at -5.28, just ahead of the Blue Jays at -6.07. (Yankees led MLB at +6.74.) Coupled with WPA/LI, we can see that the A's bullpen had a low talent level <i>and</i> got even worse in the biggest situations. The A's were the only bullpen in MLB to score a negative value on both WPA/LI and Clutch. <i>The only one.</i></p>
<p><b>- 1st in one-run losses.</b> Their record was 19-35, and it's difficult to be <i>that bad</i> in an area that is usually more or less a coin flip. Having a bad bullpen is a great way to weight the proverbial coin against you, but think about the teams that have been coming up as comps in the previous sections: the Braves (28-18), Tigers (26-22), and Rockies (20-24) all did fine in one-run games despite their porous pens. The A's were a special brand of bad to rack up this record. Ready for the best part? The Blue Jays actually had a slightly worse winning percentage in one-run games (15-28), and they made the ALCS anyway. Life isn't fair.</p>
<p><b>A few other stats to finish off the picture:</b> 15th in innings (509), 28th in groundball rate (41.6%), 2nd-highest HR per 9 innings (1.31), 23rd in strikeout rate (21.0%), MLB-worst LOB% (69.6%). The one nice thing I can say is that they had the 10th-best walk rate (only 8.1%), but I assume that's simply because hitters were too busy crushing the ball all over the field.</p>
<h3>The key culprits</h3>
<p>Okay, we get it, the A's bullpen was bad. It might have been one of the worst bullpens in history, if we're being honest. As a group they had few if any redeeming qualities, but which individuals stood out as the worst of the worst? <i>(Notes: ERA in minimum 20 innings; IS% with minimum 15 inherited runners; BS = Blown Saves; Pom = Pomeranz; O'Fats = O'Flaherty.)</i></p>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><b>ERA</b></td>
<td><b>IS%</b></td>
<td><b>BS</b></td>
<td><b>WPA</b></td>
<td><b>WPA/LI</b></td>
<td><b>Clutch</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Alvarez (9.90)</td>
<td>Scribner (10/21)</td>
<td>Clippard (4)</td>
<td>Otero (-1.65)</td>
<td>Alvarez (-1.24)</td>
<td>Leon (-1.84)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Otero (6.75)</td>
<td>Pom (11/28)</td>
<td>Scribner (4)</td>
<td>Scribner (-1.47)</td>
<td>Otero (-1.02)</td>
<td>Otero (-1.55)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>O'Fats (5.91)</td>
<td>Venditte (7/18)</td>
<td>Abad (3)</td>
<td>Mujica (-1.11)</td>
<td>Abad (-0.68)</td>
<td>Scribner (-1.37)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mujica (4.81)</td>
<td>Otero (8/24)</td>
<td>Mujica (3)</td>
<td>Leon (-1.07)</td>
<td>O'Fats (-0.49)</td>
<td>Mujica (-1.22)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Venditte (4.40)</td>
<td>Abad (13/46)</td>
<td>Pom (3)</td>
<td>Abad (-0.94)</td>
<td>Scribner (-0.41)</td>
<td>Alvarez (-1.03)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p>Who shows up on the most lists?</p>
<p><b>- Otero:</b> 5 (all but blown saves; he was only trusted with 4 saves situations)<br><b>- Scribner:</b> 5 (all but ERA, and at 4.35 he'd have been 7th-worst)<br><b>- Mujica:</b> 4 (all but IS% and WPA/LI)<br><b>- Abad:</b> 4 (all but ERA and clutch, though he was better than league-average in IS%)</p>
<p>Wondering why Dan Otero was let go so quickly and unceremoniously? It's arguable that he was the worst guy in the pen last year. Now, it's important to note that WPA and Clutch are not predictors of future performance, and the biggest thing hurting his ERA was a mammoth total of hits allowed that could easily come down next year. He could bounce back for the Phillies. But if you want to clear out the things that went wrong last year and start over from scratch, then he had to go. Meanwhile, Mujica was only here as the Tank Commander, so letting him walk away was an easy call. And as much as I believe in an Abad bounce-back, it's easy to justify removing him from the equation this winter.</p>
<p>The odd case is Scribner. He actually led the bullpen in innings in 2015, and as you can see he was as responsible as anyone for putting the A's in positions to lose games. It would be easy to make a case for dropping him too, and yet the A's tendered him a contract. Here are my best three guesses as to why:</p>
<p><b>- Even in arbitration, the contract will be cheap.</b> He's currently estimated to get around $700,000, which is barely more than the minimum. Holding onto him through the spring as insurance is not a big monetary risk.<br><b>- Key stat: 64 strikeouts, 4 walks.</b> His 16.0 K/BB was tops in MLB and it wasn't close. That is such extreme success in a metric I care deeply about that I'm willing to give him one more try to see what happens. Even though he also led MLB (min. 60 innings) with his 2.1 HR per 9 innings.<br><b>- He was set up to fail in 2015.</b> All those blown saves, and the un-clutchness? That's because he was forced into a set-up role that he never, ever belonged in. The pen fell apart so quickly and so thoroughly that he was pitching the 8th inning by mid-April. Stick him back in the 6th inning where he belongs, or into a mopup role, and he can be an asset once again.</p>
<p>Alright, now who shows up on the fewest of those naughty lists, or not at all?</p>
<p>- <b>Fernando Rodriguez</b> escaped all lists, while ranking 2nd in innings (58⅔)<br>- <b>Clippard</b> only showed up on blown saves, which makes sense since he was the closer and also led in save situations<br>- <b>Pomeranz</b> was poor with inherited runners, and he also would have been next-worst on the Clutch list, but like with Clippard he's on the blown saves list because he had the second-most save situations.<br>- <b>Ryan Dull</b> and <b>Sean Doolittle</b> didn't pitch enough to qualify for most of this stuff, but they also did well in their small samples.</p>
<p>Clippard was traded midseason (for great value) and Pomeranz was traded last week (for solid value). But Rodriguez is still here, Doolittle is expected to be ready for the season, and Dull should be in the picture at some point.</p>
<p>The rest of the holdovers:</p>
<p><b>- R.J. Alvarez</b> was atrocious, but he was a 24-year-old with virtually no MLB experience. He has a huge arm and control/command problems, and there's enough upside in that profile to keep him around in Triple-A and give him another try.<br><b>- Arnold Leon</b> showed up on two lists, but they were the two that aren't predictive at all (WPA and Clutch). However, he would have ranked on the IS% list if he'd made the minimum cut; he allowed 7-of-13 inherited runners to score (Alvarez was even worse at 7-for-12). Leon also missed the ERA list by one hundredth of a run (4.39). On one hand, it was his first time in MLB and his first experience as a full-time reliever. On the other hand, he's out of options now. I'm happy to keep him if he fits in April, but if he has to be waived then it's not the end of the world.<br><b>- Daniel Coulombe,</b> <b>Angel Castro, and Aaron Kurcz</b> are still in Triple-A Nashville as the deepest of depth, but they aren't currently on the 40-man roster.</p>
<h3>The 2016 overhaul</h3>
<p>The A's have added two new relievers already this winter:</p>
<p><b>- Liam Hendriks.</b> In his first go-around as a reliever, he struck out a ton of batters but didn't get much of a chance to hold leads (only 8 save situations, for 6 holds and 2 blown). His non-predictive clutch stats (WPA, Clutch) were negative, and he was only average at stranding inherited runners (30%). One thing he brings is velocity. Here's another stat from last year: The A's pen ranked 28th in average fastball velocity, at 91.4 mph (via FanGraphs).</p>
<p>In 2015, the biggest average fastball velocity in the pen belonged to Angel Castro, at 94.1 mph ... in four innings of work. There were 150 hurlers who appeared in MLB and registered a speedier average fastball than that, and the entire Marlins pen had the same average. Among holdovers who might actually be on the team next year, there is Rodriguez (93.7), Doolittle (92.4), and no one else above 92 mph. Last year, Hendriks' heater clocked in at 94.9 mph on average, making him by far the hardest thrower in the pen even if Doolittle recovers his 94 mph average from 2013-14. There are other ways to retire hitters than pure gas, and in fact speed won't get you there on its own. But from a fan perspective, it sure feels good to see some of your relievers come in and light up the gun in the late innings.</p>
<p><b>- Marc Rzepczynski.</b> He had an off-year at age 29, so we're hoping for a bounce-back here. He still misses bats and racks up strikeouts (more than one per inning the last three years combined), and despite an increase last year he usually strands inherited runners well. He's perfectly fine to fill the hole left by Pomeranz.</p>
<p>So, where does that leave us at the moment?</p>
<p><b>4 guys are locks if healthy:</b> Doolittle, Hendriks, Rodriguez, and Rzepczynski<br><b>4 guys out of options:</b> Scribner, Leon, and surplus starters Sean Nolin and Felix Doubront<br><b>3 spares who have options:</b> Dull, Alvarez, and Jarrod Parker if he's healthy</p>
<p>The A's are still <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/2/9836906/athletics-trade-rumors-gm-david-forst-arms-are-still-a-priority" target="_blank">looking to add arms</a>, so this won't be the final picture and there will ultimately have to be subtractions before Opening Day. Here are some thoughts on that:</p>
<p>- Gotta add a set-up man, if not two. I like Hendriks and Rodriguez, but I'd rather see them in the 6th/7th for the most part. Also, who closes games if Doo gets hurt again?<br>- It's hard to see Leon making the cut in the end unless a lot of things go wrong, but he may also clear waivers so perhaps he'll stick around. <br>- I could see anything with Scribner: making the roster, getting cut during spring, or being included in a trade this winter.<br>- Despite being an intriguing prospect, it seems to me that Dull is a virtual lock to start in Triple-A. There is always a crunch to keep out-of-options players, and so his youth will work against him this year.<br>- What's more likely: Rzepczynski is flipped in another deal, or Nolin is included in a trade rather than risk having to waive him if he doesn't make the cut in the spring?</p>
<p>Beyond that, we'll have to wait and see. The Winter Meetings get underway on Sunday, though <a href="http://www.sfchronicle.com/athletics/article/At-winter-meetings-A-s-look-to-shore-up-6678445.php?t=82849a376b7d4f3860&cmpid=twitter-premium" target="_blank">Susan Slusser of the S.F. Chronicle reports</a> that the A's aren't arriving until Monday. At last year's meetings, Oakland swung the Brandon Moss trade and Sharknado 2, so who knows what could happen this time around. There are all sorts of names to choose from: Darren O'Day, Ryan Madson, Shawn Kelley, Joakim Soria, Antonio Bastardo, Trevor Cahill, Joe Blanton, Steve Cishek, Juan Nicasio, Yusmeiro Petit, and many more whom we haven't discussed, not to mention all kinds of trade targets. The possibilities are endless, with the <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/5/9852814/dodgers-losing-zack-greinke-hurt-oakland-as-chances-of-signing-ryan" target="_blank">current rumors having them in on Madson</a>.</p>
<p>What would you do next? How many more big additions should they make, and who should be subtracted to make room? Are there any particular targets you want above all else? Is the ultimate prize, <a href="http://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/5/9854906/the-as-should-trade-for-aroldis-chapman" target="_blank">trading for Aroldis Chapman</a>, on the table at all? To the comments!</p>
https://www.athleticsnation.com/2015/12/5/9851298/oakland-athletics-bullpen-overhaul-trade-free-agent-rumorsAlex Hall