Veteran infielder Nick Punto‘s 2015 contract option with the Oakland Athletics has vested, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Nick Punto tells me his option for next year has vested. He had complicated formula for getting option picked up, says he is back in '15.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) October 1, 2014
The 36-year-old infielder’s option is worth approximately $2.75 million and it vesting was based on how many days he spent on the active roster, according to MLB Daily Dish, ensuring a solid payday, despite his dismal 2014 campaign. Punto batted just .207/.296/.293 in 73 games with Oakland in 2014 – by far the worst marks of his big league career, which began back in 2001, when he broke onto the big league scene with the Philadelphia Phillies.
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His bat has never been much of a value to teams. Rather, teams find room for him because of his defensive versatility. For Oakland this season, he played four defensive positions, as well as serving as the club’s designated hitter for one game. He appeared in 52 games at second base, 17 at third base, a pair of contests at third base and one game in right field.
Half of his big league career was spent as a member of the Minnesota Twins, with whom he appeared in 747 games. During that stretch, Punto hit .248/.323/.324, posting a cumulative dWAR of 8.4 in those seven seasons.
Oakland has deficiencies up the middle to be addressed this offseason, due to the fact that Jed Lowrie, who was the team’s primary shortstop this season, is a free agent this offseason, along with Alberto Callaspo. Eric Sogard, who saw time as a middle infielder for Oakland this year, will return in 2015.
Punto, while valuable as a defensive utility player likely won’t be the team’s day-to-day starting second baseman.