Oakland Athletics rumors: Tommy Milone has asked for a trade
By Hayden Kane
There is exactly one team in all of baseball that could afford to watch a pitcher go 6-0 with a 2.82 ERA in a stretch of 11 starts and then promote that same starter to Triple-A.
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That team, of course, is the Oakland Athletics. Tommy Milone has kicked back and forth between the big leagues and the minor leagues throughout his young career, but he still has a career ERA under 4.00 and looked to have turned things around this season. But once the team traded for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, the team decided they did not have a spot for him.
Left to keep his game sharp in Triple-A while he waits for his next chance, Milone has reportedly asked the Athletics to trade him. From Ken Rosenthal:
"The odd man out in the Oakland Athletics’ rotation wants to be gone for good.Left-hander Tommy Milone has asked the club to trade him, major-league sources tell FOX Sports……The Athletics have received trade inquiries on Milone, but the team is not eager to move him, knowing he might be needed due to injury or ineffectiveness, sources say."
One would have to assume that the potential for ineffectiveness in particular is looming as a reason that Billy Beane wants to keep Milone in the organization rather than trade him because he is disgruntled.
Jesse Chavez might as well be wearing a flashing sign around his neck that says “candidate for regression.” And even with Jason Hammel being one part of the big trade with the Cubs, he also is a candidate to see his numbers crash down to earth because it has happened to him in past seasons.
Sorry to say, the A’s aren’t likely to honor this request. The good news for Milone is that he probably has not seen his last action on the mound in Oakland.