With a whirlwind of activity already for the Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane is still not done as left-handed reliever Jerry Blevins got traded to the Washington Nationals for their reigning Minor League Player of the Year outfielder Billy Burns.
Blevins came over to the A’s in the trade that sent Jason Kendall to the Chicago Cubs in July of 2007. He became an important member of the bullpen during his seven seasons in Oakland and his most notable performance came in September of 2012 as he inherited a runner on first and third with no outs in a one run game against the Los Angeles Angels. The lefty struck out Kendrys Morales and induced a game ending double play off the bat of Howie Kendrick. His best season also came in 2012 where he went 5-1 with a 2.46 era, appeared in 63 games finished 17, threw 65.1 innings, struck out 54 while walking 25 and a whip of 1.071.
Overall his record is 13-6 with an era of 3.30, has made 281 appearances, finished 65 games, thrown 267 innings, struck out 239 while walking 95 and a whip of 1.213.
As for Burns he spent time in High-A and Double-A and combined in 121 games he hit .315 with 140 hits, 96 runs scored, 12 doubles, nine triples, no home runs, 37 rbi, 74 stolen bases, caught stealing seven times, 72 walks compared to 54 strikeouts and a obp of .425. He has played left field and center field and committed just two errors. In the three seasons the switch hitting outfielder has hit .312, with 296 hits, 200 runs scored, 29 doubles, 16 triples, one home run, 96 rbi, 125 stolen bases, caught stealing 17 times, walked 144 times while striking out 141 times and a obp of .421.
It seems that Beane is serious about upgrading the talent in the minor league system for the A’s and the Nationals get a solid lefty in Blevins. This also isn’t the first trade with the Nationals this off-season as the A’s acquired left-handed reliever Fernando Abad in exchange for John Wooten.