If you're a team that's considered a "buyer" at the MLB trade deadline, your goal is to acquire talent that will help you win now. Talent that will help propel your team towards a playoff run.
The Athletics' recent acquisitions have done exactly that.
Relief pitcher Andrew Chafin, outfielder Starling Marte, infielder Josh Harrison, and catcher Yan Gomes were all acquired before the July 30 deadline, and each of the A's newest players have already begun to make a difference.
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“Yeah, all of them had big impacts today and all bring some energy and some different facets to us as well," A's manager Bob Melvin told reporters after the game.
"Obviously we haven’t seen anything like [Starling] Marte and his athleticism, stolen base ability," Melvin added. "[Yan] Gomes brings a leadership quality with the at-bats we’ve talked about, finding a good spot for him against the lefties. [Josh] Harrison brings a ton of energy and plays really good defense over at second base, and obviously [Andrew] Chafin had a nice inning as well. Really good, really good.”
Collectively, it was a great day at the plate, on the field, and on the mound for all four of the A's deadline acquisitions.
Marte: 3-4, 1 BB, 3 stolen bases
Oakland Athletics
Gomes: 2-5, HR, 3 RBI
Harrison: 1-5
Chafin: One scoreless inning pitched
For Harrison, his contribution didn't show up much in the box score as it did on the field. Melvin made sure to credit him for turning two big double plays, one of which came against Angels star Shohei Ohtani.
“He’s a terrific defender," Melvin said. "Those are some pretty good double plays, you don’t see Ohtani hit into too many double plays.”
A's starting pitcher Daulton Jefferies (W, 5 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 Ks) made his season debut against the Angels on Sunday, just one of two total starts he has made at the major league level dating back to last season.
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Jefferies isn't new to the organization, but he is one of the newest players to join this year's squad, replacing injured starter James Kaprielian. Struggling out of the gate in the first inning, Jefferies leaned on one of the A's new veteran leaders.
“Actually, Yan [Gomes] came over to me, I knew I was rushing a little bit," Jefferies told reporters after the game. "Yan came up to me and said ‘Your stuff is good, just take a little bit more time in-between pitches and breathe a little bit,’ My mind was relaxed but my body was just kind of ready to go, so I just had to create a little balance.”
For Jefferies and the A's, there was plenty to celebrate Sunday, including the rookie's first win in a game that was an all-around team effort.
“Yeah, we celebrated in the locker room," Jefferies said with a cheesy grin. "The guys were having fun, I had a lot of fun.”