OAKLAND, Calif. _ An already stellar A's bullpen looks to be getting even more formidable.
The A's have acquired reliever Shawn Kelley from the Washington Nationals in exchange for an undisclosed amount international slot money. In order to make room on the 40-man roster, Jake Smolinski was placed on the 60-day disabled list with a blood clot in his left calf.
Kelley was solid in 35 appearances with Washington, going 1-0 with 3.34 ERA while striking out 32 batters and walking just five over 32 1/3 innings. After a bad outing against the New York Mets last Tuesday in which he allowed three runs and appeared visibly upset on the mound as he slammed his glove on the ground, Kelley was designated for assignment the next day. The right-hander cleared through waivers before Sunday's trade.
It's unclear who gets removed from the bullpen for Kelley, but right-hander J.B. Wendelken is a likely option to get sent back down to Triple-A given his remaining options.
The A's bullpen entered Sunday's game against the Tigers with a 3.34 ERA, good for third-lowest in the American League. With Lou Trivino, Jeurys Familia, and Blake Treinen pretty much cemented as the seventh, eighth, ninth inning pitchers, Kelley figures to slot in somewhere as a fifth or sixth inning option with Yusmeiro Petit, Emilio Pagan and Ryan Buchter.
