Oakland Athletics: How they won the Healy trade
By Will Patrone
Oakland Athletics rumblings about designated hitter Ryon Healy being traded finally came to fruition today, as he was shipped off to the division rival Mariners.
As an Oakland Athletics fan, it saddens me to see Ryon Healy traded to a division rival. Healy was a positive influence within the clubhouse and created a cohesive environment among players. Regardless, the A’s traded him away for two prospects.
This continues the front office’s trend of rebuilding for the future, specifically for the opening of a new stadium. Although some fans may be disappointed about his departure, the future looks bright for the Oakland Athletics.
Trade Dynamics
Before divulging into the finer details of the transaction, we must look at the broader scope of the players exchanged. The players traded for Healy are rookie Emilio Pagan and prospect Alexander Campos.
Campos is likely to be the main target by the Athletics, as MLB Pipeline rated him the 15th best prospect in the Mariners organization. With a projected arrival in the major leagues in 2021, the 17-year old is likely to become a part of the A’s future plans.
Despite Pagan not being the main piece of the trade, the A’s still gained a significant bullpen piece. Pagan is able to occupy a Blake Treinen-like role for the Athletics by replacing the production of Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle.
Pagan recorded a solid 2-3 record with a 3.22 ERA in 34 games last season. Oakland could use another quality season, like the one Pagan had in 2017, to bolster their team this season.