
Chad Kuhl
The Colorado Rockies took a chance on Chad Kuhl last season, signing him to a one-year, $3 million to fill out the back end of their rotation. The 30-year-old veteran right-hander looked solid in the first half of the season, posting a 4.11 ERA in 17 starts, including a complete game, three-hit shutout of Dodgers at Coors Field.
While many thought the Rockies might flip him at the trade deadline, Colorado chose to hold on to Kuhl … and the decision turned out to be a poor one. Kuhl plummeted in the second half, logging a 9.00 ERA in his final 10 starts and allowing 63 hits in 45.0 innings.
That second half will have Kuhl likely looking for a new home in 2023 (but there is talk that the Rockies would like to bring him back based on what they saw in the first half). Kuhl certainly won’t be demanding big dollars or a long-term deal, and that’s where Oakland could be a perfect fit. Kuhl could pitch in the Coliseum rather than Coors Field and the A’s could give him a chance to get regular innings.
Like Gallo and Kimbrel, Kuhl would be a roll of the dice for Oakland. However, in a season where anything might be possible in the East Bay, bringing in veterans of short-term, low-end contracts might be worth the gamble.