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The Athletics Sign Trevor Gott on a 1-Year Deal

Originally posted on The Forkball | By Abdullah Imran | Last updated 12/17/23

The Oakland Athletics have reached an agreement with reliever Trevor Gott on a Major League contract, according to a report by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. The A’s currently have a full 40-man roster, which means they will have to make a corresponding move to create space once the contract becomes official.

Trevor Gott’s Journey

The New York Mets non-tendered Gott, a 31-year-old right-handed pitcher. He had a modest $2 million salary projection, but the Mets didn’t think he could handle a middle-innings role for the whole season. In Oakland, he can fill that role and bring his wealth of experience to a bullpen with many unknowns.

Over the course of his eight-year MLB career, Gott has played for several teams including the Los Angeles Angels, Washington Nationals, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, and the New York Mets. While not a dominant force on the mound, he has consistently provided serviceable middle relief results. In the 2022 season, he posted a respectable 4.19 ERA across 58 innings.

Pitching Style and Performance

Gott has relied on his ability to strike out hitters, recording an average strikeout rate of 23.8%, while also maintaining a low walk rate of under 8%. However, his pitch repertoire doesn’t generate a significant number of swinging strikes, with only 9.2% of his offerings resulting in swings and misses. Additionally, his fastball velocity showed a slight dip last season, averaging around 93-94 MPH compared to the previous year’s average of over 95 MPH.

Despite not possessing overpowering stuff, Gott managed to outperform most of the Oakland Athletics’ bullpen. The team had a bullpen ERA of 5.20, with only the Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals performing worse. Among the A’s relievers with 20 or more innings pitched, only Austin Pruitt, Trevor May, and Dany Jiménez posted an ERA below 4.00. However, Pruitt was waived and chose free agency, May retired, and Jiménez’s results were accompanied by mediocre strikeout and walk rates.

Gott’s Role with the Athletics

Given his performance and experience, Gott is expected to take on high-leverage situations for manager Mark Kotsay. His return to free agency next winter means that he could be a valuable trade asset at the next summer’s trade deadline, potentially fetching a mid-level prospect for the Athletics.

With Gott’s signing, the Athletics have added a seasoned arm to their bullpen at a low cost. This move highlights the team’s commitment to strengthening their pitching staff and addressing the issues that plagued their relief corps last season. By bringing in a reliable veteran like Gott, the A’s hope to improve their bullpen’s performance and compete at a higher level in the upcoming season.

Conclusion

The Oakland Athletics’ acquisition of Trevor Gott on a Major League contract brings a veteran presence to their bullpen. Gott’s ability to generate strikeouts and limit walks has been a consistent aspect of his performance throughout his career. While his fastball velocity showed a slight decline, he still managed to outperform most of the Athletics’ relievers in the 2022 season.

With Gott expected to take on high-leverage situations, the A’s hope to address their bullpen issues and improve their overall pitching performance. Additionally, Gott’s potential trade value at next summer’s trade deadline adds another dimension to his signing.

As the Athletics continue to make moves to strengthen their roster, the signing of Trevor Gott is a step in the right direction. With his experience and skill set, Gott has the potential to make a significant impact and contribute to the team’s success in the upcoming season.

This article first appeared on The Forkball and was syndicated with permission.

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