Wendle, Torres added to A's 40-man roster
Abad, Gentry designated for assignment to clear room; Griffin also DFA'd to make way for Hill
OAKLAND -- The A's added infielder Joey Wendle and left-hander Jose Torres to their 40-man roster Friday, protecting them from next month's Rule 5 Draft.
The moves came at a cost, though, with the club designating lefty reliever Fernando Abad and outfielder Craig Gentry for assignment to create roster room. Right-hander A.J. Griffin was also designated in a separate move to clear space for lefty Rich Hill, whose one-year deal was announced Friday.
Wendle, acquired from the Indians in the Brandon Moss trade last winter, was terrific in his first season in the organization, hitting .289 with 10 home runs and 42 doubles in 137 games for Triple-A Nashville. The 25-year-old second baseman will be back in big league camp next spring and could make the Opening Day roster.
Torres, meanwhile, spent the bulk of the season at Class A Beloit before making three appearances for Class A Advanced Stockton, posting a combined 2.56 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings across 47 relief outings. He is ranked No. 23 in the organization by MLB.com.
Torres, 22, allowed just four home runs in that span and held opponents to a .203 average in his first season exclusively as a reliever. He was originally signed by the A's as a non-drafted free agent out of Venezuela on July 2, 2010, and is since 11-19 with a 3.47 ERA in 99 career appearances.
The A's have 10 days to trade, release or pass Abad and Gentry through waivers. Abad struggled to a 4.15 ERA in a team-leading 62 relief appearances this season after dazzling with a 1.57 ERA in his first season with the A's in 2014.
Gentry hit just .120 in 26 games over three stints with the A's this year, after batting .254 in an injury-shortened 2014 season following his trade from the Rangers in a deal that sent former Oakland first-round Draft pick Michael Choice to Texas.