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Elephant Rumblings: Erceg, Alexander drawing interest

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MLB news roundup

Good morning everyone! It’s Trade Deadline Day!

It’s always better and more fun to be on the acquiring side of trade season but the club will instead be squarely in the sellers square this year. We’ve discussed who the trade candidates are, from the obvious one-year rentals to players with additional control to the stars of the team. At this point it seems like the club is going to be more on the quiet side of things this afternoon but that doesn’t mean they’ll be completely silent on the trade front.

We got word yesterday afternoon that teams have been calling the club inquiring on the availability of right-handed setup man Lucas Erceg. This is the first time that we’re hearing his name come up in trade talks but it makes sense for the organization to listen on someone like Erceg. Acquired before the start of the 2023 season for cash considerations, Erceg has turned into one of the better relievers on the roster. The hard-throwing righty is overlooked because of the presence of All-Star flamethrower Mason Miller, but Erceg has quality stuff in his own right. In 36 2⁄3 innings so far this year he’s sporting a 3.68 ERA with 41 strikeouts compared to just 13 walks.

The club is in a seller’s position when it comes to the second-year reliever. Erceg will have five more seasons of club control after this year, more control than most relievers on the trade market. Plus the fact he’s still cheap this year, which might make him more attractive to teams with financial limitations. The A’s are in no rush to trade Erceg if they don’t feel the return is adequate however. After all, the club could keep him and watch him develop even more as a relief weapon over the rest of this year and into next. General Manager David Forst spoke recently about wanting to keep players that have team control in the fold as they embark for Sacramento. It’s not surprising that teams are calling about Erceg with relief pitching at a premium this time of year, but it wouldn’t be surprising either if the Athletics elect to hold onto the 29-year old righty.

There is another reliever on the team who makes much more straightforward sense as a trade candidate. Left-handed reliever Scott Alexander is probably the most likely player the club deals today. The 35-year old is a free agent at the end of the season and is having one of the better seasons of his 10-year career. Teams with an eye on the postseason always want relievers but lefties are usually a bit more valuable. It would be perfect for both sides as the squad can get someone that’ll help down the line, while Alexander gets another chance at the postseason. The lefty has that postseason experience and World Series ring (202 Dodgers) and teams are inquiring about him. He’s been a solid Athletic during his short tenure but the best way for him to help out now is to bring back a good prospect in exchange. We’ll see how the afternoon unfolds.

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