Team-Player Reunions to Keep an Eye on in 2017

Santiago Casilla – Oakland Athletics 

Another former Oakland Athletic is making his way back to the East Bay this upcoming season. In similar fashion as his former teammate Rajai Davis, Santiago Casilla signed for two-years and $11 million to return to where his career began.

“It’s an old saying that it’s always good to return home,” Casilla said (per sacbee.com). “And I’m very happy to get this new opportunity with the Athletics.”

Casilla spent the first six MLB seasons in an Athletics uniform. However, following his debut late in 2004, he pitched just 11 innings over his first three seasons. He allowed 12 runs that resulted in a 9.82 ERA.

Eventually, as his workload began to increase in 2007, so did his success. Casilla went 6-4 with a 4.76 ERA and four saves through 149 innings pitched during his last three seasons in Oakland.

Early in 2010, Casilla signed with the San Francisco Giants just in time to help them win three World Series championships from 2010-2014. Along with a career-high 38 saves, Casilla posted a career-best 86.4 save percentage in 2015. Unfortunately, his save percentage drastically dropped to 77.5 the following year, marking the end of his time with the Giants.

Yet, the Athletics looked past Casilla’s nine blown saves that cost him the closing role late last season. The frustration of those blown saves overshadowed his career-best 10.1 strikeouts-per-nine-innings.

Returning to his roots across the Bay might be exactly what Casilla needs to shake off the woes of 2016. Confident in the potential of the newest addition to their pitching staff, the Athletics welcomed Casilla with open arms and high hopes.