The A's bullpen was probably the greatest strength of the team in 2018. Oakland's pen ranked third in Major League Baseball with a 3.37 ERA and second with a .220 opponents' batting average, while pitching the second most innings in the league.
The bullpen should still be a strength next season, although it will likely look a bit different. Veterans Fernando Rodney and Jeurys Familia are long shots to return, while Shawn Kelley and Cory Gearrin are questionable at best. But the A's will still have plenty of young and talented arms to close out games in 2019.
First and foremost, All-Star closer Blake Treinen should be back in green and gold. The 30-year-old is under team arbitration control, projected to make around $5.8 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors. That would be a bargain for the best closer in baseball, especially one who's capable of pitching multiple innings.
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Lou Trivino and J.B. Wendelken will likely be Treinen's primary setup men. Trivino, 27, had a terrific rookie season, going 8-3 with a 2.92 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 74 innings. Wendelken, 25, was also impressive in limited action, allowing just one run on eight hits in 16 2/3 innings, with 14 punch outs. The two right-handers are more than capable of handling the seventh and eighth innings next season.
Left-hander Ryan Buchter should also be back in 2019. The 31-year-old is projected to get about $1.3 million in arbitration, per MLB Trade Rumors. Buchter put together a strong season as a left-handed specialist, going 6-0 with a 2.75 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings. Against left-handed batters, he was almost unhittable, limiting opponents to a .169 batting average.
Liam Hendriks and Yusmeiro Petit are both under team control and should add depth to the pen. Hendriks, 29, is eligible for arbitration, where he is projected to earn $2.1 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors. The right-hander was fantastic in September after increasing his fastball velocity to around 96 mph. In 13 innings, he allowed just two earned runs for an ERA of 1.38.
Petit, 33, is under contract for next season and will earn $5.5 million. He went 7-3 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.01 WHIP this past season, leading Major League relievers in innings pitched for the second straight year. Petit's versatility makes him extremely valuable, as he can pitch in any situation, including as a spot starter.
Oakland Athletics
That leaves the A's with two bullpen spots to fill. They will likely come from a combination of Kelley, Gearrin, Emilio Pagan, or free agents. Perhaps most important, Oakland should have a better starting rotation next season, reducing the workload for the pen.
Projected A's 2019 bullpen:
1. RHP Blake Treinen
2. RHP Lou Trivino
3. RHP J.B. Wendelken
4. LHP Ryan Buchter
5. RHP Liam Hendriks
6. RHP Yusmeiro Petit
7. Open Slot
8. Open slot