A's Have Two Rotation Spots Up For Grabs In Camp

"The A's added back-end starter Aaron Civale on a $6MM free agent contract this week. He slots behind Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs as experienced arms in an otherwise young rotation. Manager Mark Kotsay suggested on Wednesday that while the three veterans were locked into starting spots, camp battles could decide the final two roles. "It's definitely an open competition," the fourth-year skipper told Martín Gallegos of MLB.com. "I think we do have some depth this year that we haven't had in the past.""

"The 23-year-old Morales turned in a 3.14 earned run average over his first 48 2/3 MLB frames. His 21.6% strikeout percentage and 9% walk rate weren't as impressive, and his fly-ball profile led to some home run trouble. The underlying numbers would suggest he's a regression candidate, but he could certainly offset that by missing more bats in his first full season. Morales has a 97 mph average fastball and a potential plus breaking ball."

"Lopez is a soft-tossing lefty who turns 28 during Spring Training. That points to a lower ceiling than Morales possesses, but he arguably showed more in his rookie season. Lopez punched out 28.3% of opponents behind an above-average 11.8% swinging strike rate. He finished the year with a 4.08 ERA that is skewed by a nine-run drubbing that he took in Seattle just before he went on the injured list with a season-ending flexor strain. He carried a 3.28 earned run average into that appearance."

The A's signed Aaron Civale to a $6 million contract to add a back-end starter to a young rotation. Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs occupy the experienced roles ahead of Civale, while camp battles will determine the final two rotation spots. Only Springs and Severino among returning starters reached 100 MLB innings last season; Jacob Lopez led returning pitchers with 92 2/3 innings. Luis Morales (23) posted a 3.14 ERA in 48 2/3 innings with a 21.6% strikeout rate, 9% walk rate, fly-ball tendencies, a 97 mph fastball and a potential plus breaking ball. Lopez is a soft-tossing lefty with strong swing-and-miss metrics but a lower ceiling.

Read at MLB Trade Rumors