Oakland Athletics: Finding the Team’s Next Ace
The Oakland Athletics haven’t had a true ace in their staff for a number of years. However, the future for the A’s rotation is beginning to look bright.
It’s been a while since the Oakland Athletics have had a true number one “ace.” Despite winning 97 games and going to the American League Wild Card Game in 2018, they didn’t have a true number one pitcher. Sean Manaea threw their most innings with 160 2/3, but he had to have shoulder surgery.
However, he wouldn’t be considered an ace. Despite throwing a no-hitter, his 3.59 ERA, 4.26 FIP, and 6.0 K/9 are not ace material.
You could look at Sonny Gray as their last true number one pitcher, but he was never a true ace, either. His best season in Oakland was 2015, where he pitched in 208 innings and struck out 169 for a 7.3 K/9.
That season he posted a 2.73 ERA and his FIP was at 3.45, and grouping that with his three complete games and two shutouts, he finished third in Cy Young voting, although he did not receive a first-place vote. That was his best season, compiling a 3.9 fWAR. His other seasons in fWAR were 1.5, 3.5, 0.9.
The most recent ace the A’s had was their 11 games of Jon Lester in 2016 when they acquired him for the stretch run. IN his 76 2/3 innings, Lester struck out 71 an posted a 2.35 ERA and 3.13 FIP. Unfortunately, they lost him in free agency to the Cubs.
Aside from that short stretch with Lester, you would have to go back to the Mark Mulder, Barry Zito and Tim Hudson days to find an A’s pitcher that was a reliable ace. However, things are looking up for the A’s pitching staff for the future.
Frankie Montas has pitched very well for them thus far. If this breakout is for real, Montas could be a vital part of their pitching staff going forward.
However, they have a couple of prospects that are very highly touted and could be their top two pitchers in the rotation if everything pans out.
Jesus Luzardo
Luzardo was one of the biggest prospect risers of the past couple of years. According to MLB Pipeline, he wasn’t even ranked in the Top 100 prospects in 2017, and by the end of the year in 2018, he was all the way up to number 12 and was the top-ranked left-handed pitching prospect.
Luzardo features a fastball that sits mid-90s, along with his best offspeed pitch, his changeup, which MLB pipeline has given a 60 on the 20-80 scouting scale, meaning it is a plus pitch. He also has a curveball, which is a 55 on MLB Pipeline, so it’s above average.
Luzardo was terrific in 2018 across three levels of the minors. In 109 1/3 innings, Luzardo struck out 129 batters, 10.6 K/9, and a 2.88 ERA. It was only that high because in four starts at Triple-A Nashville, he had a 7.31 ERA. That’s not too concerning because the PCL is an extremely hitter-friendly league, and a lot of pitchers struggle. At Double-A Midland in 2018, Luzardo had a 2.29 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings.
The 21-year-old lefty pitched in Spring Training with the Major League club in 2019. In four appearances, including two starts, Luzardo gave up just one earned run in 9 2/3 innings, including 15 strikeouts.
It seemed like Luzardo might make the opening day roster, but late in Spring Training he went down with a muscle strain in his shoulder. He is currently set to make his season debut at Double-A Midland on June 11.
Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs tweeted that Luzardo has been sitting 95-97 in his extended Spring Training, on about a 25 pitch count. He could be up in the majors very soon if he pitches well on his rehab stint, and could be a very important part of the Oakland Athletics rotation going forward.
A.J. Puk
Puk was the sixth overall pick out of Florida in the 2016 draft. He has two plus pitches according to MLB Pipeline. His fastball is a 70 and his slider is a 65. He also has an above average changeup, which is a 55. His curveball, however, could use a little work as it is a 45 on MLB Pipeline.
His numbers in the minors, ERA wise, aren’t great. He pitched in short-season ball in 2016 and accumulated 40 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings, with a 3.03 ERA. In 2017, he moved to full-season ball and pitched in both High-A and Double-A. In 27 appearances, 24 starts, he pitched in 125 innings. His ERA in those innings was 4.03, and he racked up 184 strikeouts, a whopping 13.2 K/9.
The 24-year-old is one of the best strikeout pitchers in the minors. That bodes well for him to translate well to the majors. It’s a strikeout league, and Puk is one of the best at that.
However, like Luzardo, he is currently rehabbing an injury. In Spring Training of last year, he was originally shut down with biceps soreness, but Jon Heyman later reported that the Oakland Athletics feared he had a ligament issue in his elbow, and he later underwent Tommy John surgery.
Before the injury, he was ranked as the third-best left-handed pitcher on MLB Pipeline, ahead of Luzardo. He is currently ranked as the number four left-handed pitching prospect on that same list.
Eric Longenhagen, in the same tweet about Luzardo, said that Puk was sitting 96-98. If Puk pitches at full health, he can easily make an impact with the Oakland Athletics as well. With Luzardo, and Puk at his full strikeout potential, Oakland could have a very deadly 1-2 combo if both are healthy.
Frankie Montas
Montas has less of a chance to become the ace of the rotation than Luzardo and Puk, but with the way he is pitching this year, he still has a bit of a chance.
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In his young career, Montas has already been traded three times. He was originally signed by the Red Sox in 2009 and was traded to the White Sox in 2013 in a three-team trade that sent Jake Peavy to Boston, Jose Iglesias went to the Tigers and Avisail Garcia went to the Whtie Sox.
In 2015, he was a part of another three-team deal that included players such as Todd Frazier, Scott Schebler, and Trayce Thompson, with Montas sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers and was traded to Oakland the very next year in the trade that sent Josh Reddick and Rich Hill to Los Angeles.
He seems to have finally found a home in Oakland, where he has pitched wonderfully this season. In 13 starts, 76 innings, the 26-year-old righty has struck out 79 batters and posted a 2.86 ERA and 3.04 FIP.
Montas has been by far and away the Oakland Athletics’ best pitcher, racking up 2.2 fWAR with the next closest on the team being Brett Anderson‘s 0.8 fWAR.
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If Luzardo and Puk reach their full potential, Montas would be the third best pitcher in the Oakland Athletics rotation. However, with the two rehabbing, for now, Montas has shown that he has the capability to be the number one starter. While enjoying this breakout, and possibly All-Star, campaign, he has been nothing short of an ace, at least for Oakland, and has been enjoying their best pitching season since Sonny Gray’s 2015 season.