As the MLB trade deadline draws near, one of the top commodities will be late-inning relief help. One potential option? Oakland Athletics lefty Sean Doolittle.
With just over a month until the MLB trade deadline, teams have been inquiring on left-handed reliever Sean Doolittle. The former A’s closer has earned himself plenty of attention by posting a 2.93 ERA and striking out 35 in 30.2 innings.
Doolittle missed almost all of the 2015 season with a shoulder injury, but appears to be back in full form this year. His velocity is back up, his pitches are deceiving hitters, and he seems fully healthy despite pre-season concerns about his injury history.
There’s a case to be made that it makes no sense for the A’s to deal Doolittle, who is not just excellent on the field, but beloved by fans. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports pointed out that the A’s aren’t doing themselves any favors by continuing to make major changes each season:
"…it’s time for the Athletics to commit to a direction, going all-in with their veterans who matter most, and allowing that group to serve as a foundation while the team’s next wave of prospects emerges. The A’s live in no-man’s land. They have no idea if and when they are getting a new ballpark. And while Beane, to his credit, is too competitive to tear down his roster, he’s spinning his wheels with veterans such as Billy Butler and Jed Lowrie."
Doolittle is signed through 2019, with a team option for 2020, and plenty of clubs would love to get their hands on a left-handed closer on those kind of terms – but who are the top contenders for a trade with the A’s?
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