A's acquire Parker, Cook, Cowgill for Cahill, Breslow

OAKLAND, Calif. – The Oakland Athletics today acquired starting pitcher Jarrod Parker, outfielder Collin Cowgill and relief pitcher Ryan Cook from the Diamondbacks in a five-player trade that sent starting pitcher Trevor Cahill and reliever Craig Breslow to Arizona.  The Diamondbacks also received cash considerations.

Parker, who turned 23 on Thanksgiving, was Arizona’s first-round selection (ninth overall) in the 2007 June Amateur Draft.  The 6-1, 195-pound right-hander registered an 11-8 record and 3.79 ERA in 26 starts for Double-A Mobile last season, striking out 112 and walking 55 in 130.2 innings.  He made his Major League debut on Sept. 27, pitching 5.2 scoreless innings and allowing four hits against the Los Angeles Dodgers in gaining a no-decision in his only start.  Considered the No. 33 prospect by Baseball America prior to the 2011 season, the Ft. Wayne, Ind. native has posted a 28-19 mark and 3.49 ERA in 70 career minor league games, all starts, in striking out 324 and walking 126 in 345.2 innings. 

Cowgill, 25, was the Diamondbacks’ fifth-round choice in the 2008 June Amateur Draft.  He played 36 games in the majors last season, hitting .239 with three doubles, a home run, nine RBI and four stolen bases for the NL West Division champions.  The 5-9, 185-pound left-handed hitter went one-for-one with two RBI against Milwaukee in the 2011 NL Divisional Series.  He enjoyed a standout campaign at Triple-A Reno this past season, batting .354 with 24 doubles, eight triples, 13 home runs, 70 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 33 attempts in 98 Pacific Coast League games. 

Cook, 24, combined for a 1-5 record and 2.21 ERA with 19 saves in 48 relief appearances at Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno this past season.  He also appeared in 12 games on the big league level in 2011, compiling a 0-1 record and 7.04 ERA (6 er, 7.2 ip) with seven strikeouts and eight walks.  The Clovis, Calif. product owns a 19-26 lifetime minor league mark, including a 3.74 ERA in 104 games.  He was converted from starter to reliever this year, having previously started 56 games prior to 2011. 

The 23-year-old Cahill, who opened the 2011 season with six straight wins, finished with a 12-14 mark and 4.16 ERA in a team-high 34 starts.  He owns a 40-35 career ledger and 3.91 ERA in 96 games, all starts, during his three seasons in Oakland.  His 40 wins before the age of 24 are the second-most in Oakland history to Vida Blue’s 42 victories.  The young right-hander earned American League All-Star recognition in 2010, when he registered an 18-8 record and 2.97 ERA in 30 starts.

Claimed off waivers from Minnesota in 2009, Breslow was 0-2 with a 3.79 ERA and .296 opponents batting average in 67 relief outings this past season.  The 31-year-old southpaw struck out 44 and walked 21 in 59.1 innings while allowing 69 hits.  He owns a 3.06 ERA in 295 career appearances in the majors, including 3.14 ERA in 202 games with Oakland during the past three seasons.  Breslow’s best season with the A’s came in 2009 when he posted a 7-5 mark and 2.60 ERA in 60 appearances after being claimed from the Twins.

The 2011 and career statistics for the five players involved in today’s trade follow: