5 video games into the brand-new season, the Oakland Athletics are 1-4, and they’ve looked even worse than that record would lead you to think. They’ve dedicated 13 mistakes, 6 more than any other group, and they’ve enabled 11 taken bases, 2 more than any other group. At the ownership level, the A’s have no interest in fielding a competitive group, and it reveals on the field.
Prior to Monday’s loss to the Boston Red Sox (BOS 9, OAK 0), the Athletics rather remarkably optioned outfielder Esteury Ruiz to Triple-A to clear a lineup area for waiver claim Tyler Nevin. Ruiz was the focal point in last offseason’s Sean Murphy trade and he was off to a hot start this season, going 3 for 7 with a double and a triple. He likewise led the AL with 63 takes in 2023.
Here’s what A’s GM David Forst stated about the choice to bench Ruiz (through MLB.com):
“We spoke about Esty a number of times throughout the spring,” A’s basic supervisor David Forst stated. “Where he suits the lineup, on this group, and the value of him playing every day. Translucenting the very first 4 video games, that wasn’t going to occur here.”
…
“Cutting down on strikeouts and getting on base are things that we talked with him about all last season,” Forst stated. “He did make some excellent changes this spring. We saw an enhancement in his exit speed and some much better at-bats. The truth is, to utilize his abilities, he requires to get on base. … He requires to be able to do that on a constant basis. I’m hoping with him leading off every day in Triple-A, it’s not a long stay for him down there.”
Ruiz, 25, did not have a specifically strong 2023 season regardless of the ostentatious taken base overall. He authored a. 254/.309/.345 batting line that was 12% second-rate when changed for ballpark. Regardless of his speed, Ruiz ranked improperly in the outfield, signing up minus-13 protective runs conserved. According to Baseball Reference’s computations, he was a minus-0.1 WAR gamer in 2023.
Reality be informed, Ruiz was not a lock to make the Opening Day lineup this season. Miguel Andujar harmed his knee in spring training and required surgical treatment, which opened a lineup area for Ruiz. It wasn’t up until declaring Nevin that the A’s had a practical option for that lineup area. The hot start to 2024 is good, however eventually, sending out Ruiz to Triple-A for more advancement is not over-the-top.
Oakland obtained Ruiz from the Milwaukee Brewers as the headliner in the three-team Murphy trade with the Atlanta Braves, and, to date, that trade has actually been a total loser for the A’s. They got 5 gamers in the offer:
- OF Esteury Ruiz: Minus-0.1 WAR in 2023 and benched to Triple-A in 2024
- LHP Kyle Muller: 6.99 ERA in 85 innings with the Athletics
- RHP Freddy Tarnok: Sidelined with hip surgical treatment
- C Manny Piña: Limited to 4 video games with A’s by injuries
- RHP Royber Salinas: A’s No.
