A's Claim LHP Joe Savery on Waivers From Philly

(Nick Laham/Getty Images)

The Oakland Athletics claimed LHP Joe Savery on outright waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies Monday. To make room for him on the 40-man roster the A's moved fellow southpaw, Eric O'Flaherty on the 60-day Disabled List. O'Flaherty who is coming off of Tommy John Surgery isn't expected to be ready to pitch until July so the move works out just fine.

The transaction ends a disappointing stint in Philly for Savery, who was the Phillies' first round draft pick in 2007. Savery was known not only for his top fastball but also for his big bat, a bat he never even got to use in Philadelphia and will most likely never use in Oakland either. His fastball declined in 2011 and he was re-signed by the Phillies as a first baseman and designated hitter. He played in 2012 for the Single-A Clearwater Threshers, sharing time at first base with Darin Ruf.

Later during a 23-inning game, both Savery and Ruf were called into pitch and everyone realized that Savory's fastball was miraculously back. Savery moved quickly up through the minors and was called up to the Phillies as a pitcher, the very same season he started in Single-A as a first baseman.

(Getty Images)

Savery was 3-2 with the Phillies posting a 4.12 ERA in 41 games over the past three seasons. In 2013, however, he posted a solid 3.15 ERA in 20 innings pitched but only faced a total of 86 batters over that span making it quite a small sample to make comparisons. Hopefully, Savery will be get more of an opportunity with the Athletics that he did not get in Philly and be able to bolster the Athletics' already stellar bullpen.

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A's Update: Cook and Doolittle Both Delayed by Injury!!

Ryan Cook
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It is definitely a good thing that the Oakland Athletics beefed up their bullpen with strength and depth this off season. Even with the loss of closer Grant Balfour to free agency, the A's were able to bring in some very capable relief pitchers in Luke Gregerson, Jim Johnson and Eric O'Flaherty. O'Flaherty who is coming off of Tommy John surgery, will not be ready until May at the earliest but should still be a huge help to the Athletics after today's disturbing news.

It was announced Friday, via Jane Lee on Twitter, that both of the A's main set up men, Ryan Cook and Sean Doolittle, are already dealing with injuries,

@JaneMLB Cook will be a couple weeks behind. He's been dealing with shoulder inflammation. Melvin thinks he will be ready by OD.

@JaneMLB Doolittle also dealing with a setback. He has a right calf strain that will hold him back from throwing for a few days.

Ryan Cook's injury is more of a concern than Doolittle's since it involves the arm but seeing that as of now it is only inflammation there is a strong chance of recovery before the season opens.  Cook, 26, has a 2.30 ERA with the Athletics since coming over from the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Trevor Cahill deal. In 2o13 with Oakland the right-hander was had a 2.54 ERA in 67 1/3 innings pitched.

Sean showing his classic move dubbed by fans as "Doolittling"
Doug Pensinger/Getty

The left-hander Doolittle, 27, had a 3.13 ERA in 2013 in 69 innings with the Athletics last season. Since being called up in early 2012, the former first baseman turned pitcher, has a 3.09 ERA and 9.3K/9 in 116 1/3 total innings.

Thankfully for the Oakland Athletics, their bullpen and their concerned fans it appears that both pitchers will be ready for Opening Day. It will also be a good time to test the bullpen's new depth, during Spring Training and not during the regular season. If for some reason the pair are not ready for Opening Day the A's stellar relief staff, considered by many to be the best in baseball, should be able to hold down the fort until Cook and Doolittle are healthy again.

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A's Sign Lefty Reliever O'Flaherty to 2 Year Deal

Today the A's signed left handed reliever Eric O'Flaherty from the Atlanta Braves to a two year, $7 million deal. At first I was skeptical of this signing for two reasons. The first reason was that well, since I don't study every guy in every National League bullpen I didn't really know who he was and the second was because he will not be available until mid-season due to having had Tommy John Surgery in May 2013.

Upon further review I learned that this signing could indeed be yet another one of Billy Beane's genius moves! The 28-year old lefty has been one of the best relievers in the league in the past few years, until being sidelined with Tommy John Surgery last season. He has a career ERA of 2.85 and in 2011 his ERA was .98. His stuff his just nasty against left handed batters. Over the last three years he posted a 1.45 ERA, 124 strikeouts vs. only 45 walks and a .419 OPS against lefties. 

Taking on a guy for $3.5 million a year just off of Tommy John Surgery does sound a little crazy at first but with players getting salaries of over $100 million this is a great move for a small market team like the A's. It's a gamble for sure but it just might end up being a HUGE payoff and the A's definitely needed a lefty specialist to replace Jerry Blevins, who was traded to the Washington Nationals this off-season. I love Blevins - personality, good at his job, all around sweetheart - but I must say if O'Flaherty comes off the disabled list and is as good or possibly better than before than he is an upgrade from Blevins. 

Billy is sticking with his pattern of signing players with high ceiling talent but some health issues. Think about guys like Coco Crisp, Bartolo Colon and Jed Lowrie all of whom have helped the A's to win back to back American League West Titles! With a limited budget you have to take gambles once in a while and the A's have shown that it pays off.