One day after the Phillies designated Joe Savery for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for A.J. Burnett, the left-handed reliever was claimed by the Oakland Athletics.
Savery, 28, had a 4.15 ERA for the Phils from 2011-13 in 41 appearances, including a 3.15 mark in 2013. He did walk 11 men in 20 innings.
Savery was the Phillies' first-round pick, 19th overall, in 2007. He had a 4.06 ERA in 157 minor-league appearances, and also compiled 348 plate appearances as a first baseman and leftfielder. In 2011 he hit .294/.354/.404 in 271 plate appearances with High A Clearwater, Double A Reading and Triple A Lehigh Valley.
Prior to the 2008 season, Savery was regarded as the 80th-best prospect in the majors by Baseball America. But he could never stick in the Phillies' bullpen. Lefties have hit .286 off him in his major-league career.