The A’s are bringing left-handed reliever T.J. McFarland again forward of their anticipated transfer to West Sacramento subsequent 12 months. The group introduced Thursday they’ve agreed to phrases with the free agent southpaw on a one-year deal for the 2025 season. McFarland is represented by Octagon.
McFarland, 35, spent the 2024 season within the A’s bullpen and was a dependable supply of high quality innings. He appeared in almost half the group’s video games (79) and pitched to a 3.81 ERA with a below-average 16.6% strikeout fee however sturdy stroll and ground-ball charges of seven.2% and 57.3%, respectively. McFarland stymied left-handed opponents with a .234/.267/.324 batting line, although righties had a better time with him, slashing .273/.364/.414 on the season.
Considerably extremely, McFarland will change into the one participant on the A’s roster who has a assured wage for the upcoming season. The remainder of the roster contains 4 arbitration-eligible gamers — Brent Rooker, Seth Brown, Miguel Andujar and Dany Jimenez — however the remainder of the gamers on the group’s 40-man roster haven’t but even reached arbitration and thus shouldn’t have a wage locked in for subsequent 12 months. The A’s are extensively anticipated to spend some cash this offseason, be it by way of free company or by buying gamers on assured offers by way of the commerce market, as they’ll have to spend a good bit of money so as to retain their standing as a revenue-sharing recipient.
McFarland returns to a bullpen that lacks any actual definition past star nearer Mason Miller. Righty Tyler Ferguson posted good numbers however did in order a 30-year-old rookie, making him one thing of a wild card. Arduous-throwing righty Michael Otanez notched a 3.44 ERA and fanned 36.4% of his opponents in 34 innings … but in addition walked 13.2% of the hitters he confronted. Twenty-seven-year-old Lefty Hogan Harris turned in a sub-3.00 ERA in 72 1/3 innings however had sub-par strikeout, stroll and ground-ball charges (along with a disastrous 7.14 ERA in a comparable pattern of innings in 2023).
Given the shortage of outlined roles past Miller, it’s doubtless the A’s can have a number of additions on the bullpen entrance. For now, McFarland appears like a candidate to work in some leverage spots in opposition to lefties who gained’t be lifted for a pinch-hitter by the opposing supervisor. That mentioned, A’s skipped Mark Kotsay sometimes used McFarland in low- and medium-leverage spots in 2025, so he’s not essentially somebody the group will throw proper into full-on setup work.
Extra to return.