MLB rumors: A’s bolster pitching staff, Guardians embrace youth, more

MLB rumors: Athletics trade for Braves Triple-A pitcher Yacksel Rios

The Oakland Athletics and the Atlanta Braves are on opposite sides of the MLB standings right now. Atlanta is racing ahead in the NL East, poised to compete for another championship. The A’s are bad — like, historically bad. The two sides reached across the aisle for a trade Sunday evening.

The A’s have acquired Braves pitcher Yacksel Rios, according to Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Rios was previously with the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate in Gwinnett. Rios’ contract stipulated that Atlanta either had to assign him to the major league roster or trade him to a team that would. Thus, expect Oakland to bring Rios up to the majors.

The 29-year-old from Puerto Rico has appeared in 89 MLB games across five seasons since 2017. He spent time with Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Boston prior to signing with the Braves last offseason. He has a career ERA of 5.77 and averages 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

Those numbers aren’t great, and Rios’ reputation as a veteran journeyman makes him a strange pickup for the blatantly tanking A’s. That said, Rios has been quite impressive for the Triple-A Stripers, posting a 2.49 ERA and seven saves in 22 appearances this season. Oakland needs all the help it can get. There’s not much downside.