Matt Olson (28) is all the reason to do the forearm bash with teammate Mark Canha (20) after clouting a two run homer in the fourth inning of the Oakland A’s second game of the three game series at Globe Life Ballpark in Arlington on Tuesday night the Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos waits behind the plate (photo from sfgate.com)

Trade Dealine Monday: A’s should do “Nada”

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

The Oakland Athletics should not be busy when the trade deadline arrives on Monday the 31. Why should they? They are set at every position, including second base, shared by Tony Kemp and Chad Pinder. Their starting pitching is set and their bullpen is one of the tops in baseball.

In previous seasons the A’s have added a pitcher or two, most recent lefty reliever Jake Diekman, acquired mid-July last year in a trade with the Kansas City Royals. It is very improbable that the A’s are going to add to their bullpen, via acquisition or trade.

Of all the regular position players in the team, there is one rookie playing the catching position. Sean Murphy, for a few years he was the catcher of the future for the A’s and in 2020 he got the opportunity. Last year Murphy divided time between the minors and the majors. He launched 15 home runs in a total of just 61 games.

During Spring Training this is what Manager Bob Melvin said about Murphy. “We have been waiting for ‘Murph’ for a couple of years now,” and continued. “We have to keep him healthy” – he has dealt with some knee injuries and hasn’t had a full workload – but this is the type of a guy a catcher [turned] manager waits for.

The A’s continue their longest road-trip of the season, ten games. At Arlington vs. Rangers where they are playing a long 4-game set, then three (3) during the weekend at Houston vs. Astros, followed by three (3) more at Seattle vs. Mariners. Returning to Oakland for a seven (7)game home stand beginning September 4 against San Diego Padres for three (3) and the Houston Astros for four (4).

Super-utility Chad Pinder was placed on paternity leave as the team recalled outfielder Seth Smith. Pinder was batting .200 with two home runs and six runs batted in 17 games. Melvin has used Pinder and Kemp at second base, and without Pinder, he could also use young Luis Barreto at second base. 25-yeard old A’s catcher Jonah Heim made his major league debut last night at Arlington He got his first hit in the A’s 10-3 win over the Rangers. The A’s are “locked and loaded”to use an old Army term.

A day like today: August 26, 1980. George Brett strokes four singles and a double in five at-bats when the Royals edge Milwaukee at County Stadium, 7-6. The Kansas City third baseman’s 5-for-5 performance raises his league-leading batting average to .407. George Brett ended the season with a .390 average.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez can be heard on the Oakland A’s Spanish flagship station 1010 KIQI San Francisco and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com