A's send Cotton to Cubs for cash

November 23rd, 2019

The A’s traded right-hander to the Cubs for cash considerations, the club announced Saturday.

Oakland designated the 27-year-old Cotton for assignment on Wednesday. The trade closes the book on what began as a promising tenure for Cotton by the Bay. Acquired in the Aug. 1, 2016, trade that sent Rich Hill and Josh Reddick to the Dodgers, Cotton debuted just more than a month later and excelled in his first cup of coffee, going 2-0 with a 2.15 ERA over five September starts. He took a step back in ’17, finishing 9-10 with a 5.58 ERA and 3.7 walks per nine innings, and then underwent Tommy John surgery in ’18 after injuring his right elbow in Spring Training.

Cotton returned in 2019 with Class A Advanced Stockton, but his progress was halted again in late May with a right hamstring injury that required surgery. He re-emerged with Triple-A Las Vegas in July and finished with a 7.71 ERA over 14 Pacific League appearances.