Jason

Rice

It’s been an interesting couple of weeks for Rice. He was traded from the Red Sox to the A’s for Conor Jackson at the trading deadline. Oakland promptly waived him and the Indians were awarded the claim. One week later, he was bumped off Cleveland’s 40-man roster to make room for reliever Zach Putnam. Rice, 25, had a 3.69 ERA, 9.4 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9 in 85 1/3 Triple-A innings this year. He throws in the mid-90s and has a nice curve, so he shouldn’t have trouble finding a new job with his fourth organization in three weeks.

Rice signed a minor league contract with Atlanta in November after being designated for assignment by the Indians. But he was always a longshot to make the Braves’ Opening Day roster and will merely act as organizational relief depth in 2012.

He’ll also get an invite to spring training. Rice, 25, is now with his fourth organization since the end of August. He posted a 3.69 ERA and 89/42 K/BB ratio over 85 1/3 innings this season with Triple-A Pawtucket in the Red Sox organization.

Rice, 25, has registered a cool 3.69 ERA and 89/42 K/BB ratio in 85-plus innings this season at the Triple-A level. He could become a decent middle reliever for the A’s.

The A’s acquired Rice last week in exchange for outfielder Conor Jackson, but they were never too bullish on the 25-year-old relief prospect. He was assigned to the Indians’ Triple-A affiliate in Columbus, Ohio.