A's acquire four players from White Sox for Samardzija and Ynoa
OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland A's acquired right-handed pitcher Chris Bassitt, catcher Josh Phegley and infielders Rangel Ravelo and Marcus Semien from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for right-handed pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Michael Ynoa, the club announced today. An additional move to clear a spot on the 40-man roster will be announced later today.
Bassitt made his Major League debut with Chicago in 2014, going 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA in six games, including five starts following an Aug. 30 promotion. He began the season on the disabled list with a broken right finger and combined for a 3-1 record and a 2.08 ERA in nine games, eight starts, with two clubs in the White Sox farm system. The 25-year-old right-hander has a 22-10 record and a 2.97 ERA in 96 games, 44 starts, in four seasons in the minors. Bassitt was a 16th round pick of the White Sox in 2011.
Phegley spent most of the 2014 season at Triple-A Charlotte, batting .274 with 23 home runs and 75 RBI in 107 games. He ranked second in the International League in extra base hits (57) and third in home runs and slugging percentage (.530). The 24-year-old right-handed hitter also hit .216 with three home runs and seven RBI in 11 games with the White Sox in September and is a .207 career hitter in 76 games over two seasons with Chicago. Phegley was selected by Chicago as a compensation pick following the first round of the 2009 draft.
Ravelo hit .309 with 37 doubles, four triples, 11 home runs and 66 RBI in 133 games in his Double-A debut with Birmingham last year. He added 56 walks for a .386 on-base percentage and slugged .473. The 22-year-old right-handed hitter appeared in 108 games at first base after beginning his career as a third baseman. Ravelo, who was a sixth round pick in the 2010 draft, was rated as the White Sox No. 10 prospect by Baseball America following the season.
Semien was on the White Sox Opening Day roster and batted .234 with six home runs and 28 RBI in 64 games. He also hit .267 with 15 home runs and 52 RBI in 83 games with Triple-A Charlotte. The 24-year-old right-handed hitter made his Major League debut with Chicago in 2013 and is a .240 career hitter in 85 major league games. Semien's big league career includes 50 games at third base, 29 at second base and six at shortstop but 250 of his 387 minor league games came at shortstop. He was originally selected by Chicago in the sixth round of the 2011 draft.
Samardzija was acquired by the A's from the Cubs last July 5, was named to the National League All-Star Team two days later and went 5-6 with a 3.14 ERA in 16 starts with the A's. He was 2-7 with a 2.83 ERA in 17 starts with Chicago and combined for a 7-13 record and a 2.99 ERA in 33 starts overall. The 29-year-old right-hander had a .350 winning percentage and is one of six Major League pitchers since 1919 to finish the season with an ERA under 3.00 and a winning percentage of .350 or less. Samardzija made his ML debut with the Cubs in 2008 and pitched primarily in relief before becoming a full-time starter in 2012. He is 36-48 with a 3.85 ERA in 222 career appearances, including 99 starts.
Ynoa went 4-2 with a 5.52 ERA in 31 relief appearances with Single-A Stockton in 2014. It was his first season pitching exclusively in relief after entering the season with 36 starts and one relief appearance. The 23-year-old right-hander was originally signed by the A's out of the Dominican Republic July 2, 2008, but has missed two seasons due to injury, including 2011 following Tommy John surgery.