Maddie Meyer - Getty Images
Maddie Meyer - Getty Images
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The Oakland Athletics are in surprising territory at a game under .500 this late in the season. Unfortunately moves made earlier in the year are beginning to catch up with the club.

Announced today by manager Bob Melvin, Matt Chapman is likely headed to the disabled list due to a right hand injury that has plagued him all year. This off-season Oakland traded third basemen/first basemen Ryon Healy to the Seattle Mariners for infielder Alexander Campos and relief pitcher Emilio Pagan.

Pagan has struggled with the A’s while Healy continues to show ability to hit for power with 13 home runs in 52 games for the Mariners.

Healy did become expendable with the emerging Matt Olson at first base in 2017 who hit 24 home run in 59 games. Chapman also made his mark at third base defensively and provided some power with 14 home runs in 84 games. The A’s had prospect Renano Nunez in Nashville who hit 32 home runs.

Surprisingly enough Nunez got waived on April 15th and promptly claimed by the Texas Rangers. Though on May 13th he again got waived  and picked up by the Baltimore Orioles. What initially was a strength at third base has now become a major weakness for Oakland.

There aren’t many options for the club down in Nashville. Sheldon Neuse acquired in the Sean Doolittle trade has struggled all season long and is hitting .198 with no home runs and 17 rbi. Steve Lombardozzi makes the most sense for a call-up as he’s got major league experience, yet has only played in 34 games since 2014.

Outside of the organization Chase Headley is a free agent and though he struggled to start the season with the San Diego Padres while led to him eventually getting released he did hit .273 in 2017 with the New York Yankees.

By the looks of it utility man Chad Pinder gets the chance at third although he’s played a total of 56 innings combined between the majors and minors at the position.

The reason Healy got moved is justifiable not a lot of playing time to go around with Chapman and Olson along with Khris Davis as the every day designated hitter. Letting Nunez go for nothing that is a differetn story and seemingly has come back to haunt the A’s.

 

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