OAKLAND -- Though freshly removed from a first-place Washington club primed for postseason play and thrown into last place with the A's via trade, Blake Treinen relishes a change of scenery.
The right-handed reliever's season has been an ongoing struggle, seen through his 5.73 ERA entering Monday. But Treinen's track record suggests the A's did right by reconnecting with the 29-year-old, who began his professional career in Oakland's organization.
"As soon as we made the trade, I got calls from two other teams trying to acquire him from us. We said no," said A's executive vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane, who dealt relievers Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to Washington in exchange for three players Sunday.
"We're familiar with him. He's got a big arm. Listen, some of the things that have gone on in Washington were pretty well publicized. Some of those guys are very talented but have got in a rut. But his stuff's very, very good. We know Blake real well from the days that we drafted him."

Treinen will help with setup duties for the A's, who made him a seventh-round Draft selection in 2011. Two years later, he was dealt to Washington, where he flourished in his first three seasons, totaling a 2.91 ERA across 185 1/3 innings.
The righty is equipped with a dynamic, heavy sinker that induces a bevy of ground balls, along with a live fastball -- both of them reaching the upper 90s. Treinen believes his stuff "is still the same" but also noted, "Maybe falling behind and walking guys is what's hurt me."
"I think a change of scenery always feels like a fresh start. It definitely can change the outlook on a season," he said. "There were some struggles with me over in D.C. performance-wise, but stuff-wise, I feel like I'm still there, and I'm going to be able to contribute here and hopefully help these guys win games."
Treinen met with manager Bob Melvin upon his arrival Monday afternoon to discuss his late-inning role. Hours later, he made his A's debut in the eighth inning with the home club trailing, 3-1, and worked around a one-out walk for a scoreless frame in the 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay. It was his first appearance since July 7.
"He knows that he'll be one of the guys leading up to [closer Santiago] Casilla in the ninth, and we feel good about it," Melvin said. "Whenever two guys go away who were as instrumental at the back end of the game as [Doolittle and Madson] were, we certainly would like to replace them, and he will be one of those guys."
Said Treinen: "I'm excited to be back here. This is where it started. I was drafted by these guys, they gave me my opportunity to play pro ball."
Worth noting
• Rookie Chad Pinder (left hamstring) is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday.
• Right-hander Bobby Wahl (shoulder) threw to hitters Monday afternoon for the first time since going on the disabled list May 24, getting the clear for a rehab assignment that is scheduled to begin Thursday with Class A Advanced Stockton.
• Melvin said reliever Ryan Dull (right knee) is expected to return by the end of the month.