Oakland Athletics: 3 trade targets as deadline nears

The Oakland Athletics are enjoying a ton of success so far in 2021. The team enters play Tuesday with a record of 54-42, good enough to own the second American League Wild Card spot and to be only 3.5 games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West.

But there is always room for improvement and as the trade deadline nears, the A’s are easily a top team looking to become buyers. While that organization is notorious for keeping costs low, adding some rental players would not be out of the ordinary.

So let’s now take a look at three players the team could add by the deadline.

3. Bryan Shaw

Bryan Shaw has seen a career renaissance in 2021 with the Cleveland Indians. The veteran reliever was great in Cleveland from 2013-2017, only to seemingly decline endlessly upon leaving. His old team gave him another shot this year and he owns a 2.83 ERA in 42 appearances.

Shaw is on a cheap, expiring deal and the Indians already have a stockpile of younger talent in their bullpen. So even if the club wants to keep competing, a Shaw deal makes sense.

He would show up as the ideal seventh or eighth inning reliever and help a squad currently rocking a 3.90 bullpen ERA. The right-hander is an ideal option because he isn’t showing up expecting to close games or flash any ego at all. He would just be a setup guy and add both talent and experience to the Oakland bullpen.