MLB.com reports:
Mid-July is often the point in the season when players are looking for a signal from the front office that will indicate what direction the club is going in with the impending July 31 Trade Deadline. The A’s sent a clear message about where they stand on Sunday.
Kicking off the second half with back-to-back wins to move into the lead for the second American League Wild Card spot, the A’s filled a need in the starting rotation with the addition of right-hander Homer Bailey in a deal with the Royals. Bailey is expected to make his debut on Wednesday against the Mariners at the Coliseum.
“The players feel these things. They want to feel like the front office is going out to make us better, and typically they do that,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “It doesn’t mean we’re done, but it’s nice to get someone in the rotation we feel makes us better.”
According to NBC sports:
The 33-year-old Bailey inked a minors deal with the Royals in advance of spring training. Since then, he’s put up a 7-6 record in 18 starts with a 4.80 ERA, 3.8 BB/9, and 8.1 SO/9 through 90 innings. While he isn’t the 3.00-ERA, 3.0+ fWAR, no-hitter hurler he was for the Reds in years past, he may yet improve his performance with the A’s as they vie for a wild card spot this summer. He was originally slated to start Sunday’s game against the Tigers, but was replaced by southpaw Brian Flynn prior to news of the trade.
Merrell, 23, was selected by the A’s in the first round of the 2017 amateur draft. The shortstop/second baseman made the jump to Double-A Midland in 2019 and slashed .246/.292/.339 with 19 extra bases, 13 stolen bases (in 17 chances), and a .631 OPS through 318 plate appearances. Per MLB Pipeline, he ranked 17th-best among the club’s prospects in 2019.
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