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Bassitt arrives, will provide long relief from bullpen

ANAHEIM -- Right-hander Chris Bassitt joined the A's in time for Thursday's series finale in Anaheim, providing an immediate long-relief option out of the bullpen.

Bassitt entered Spring Training as a rotation candidate but struggled greatly, particularly with the inside fastball to left-handers. In his time with Triple-A Nashville, where he posted a 3.38 ERA in three games (two starts), he went back to the first-base side of the rubber after watching video from last year.

"Pretty much from there, it all came together," said Bassitt, who had an 8.78 spring ERA. "I feel a million times better than I did."

Bassitt, acquired in the Jeff Samardzija deal, held opposition to a .207 average and struck out 16, with four walks, in 16 innings for the Sounds. He said he's "very comfortable facing [lefties] again."

"He made some adjustments on the rubber as far as the issues he felt like he had coming out of spring," said A's manager Bob Melvin. "You can say all you want about going down and working on your deficiencies and the things you need to do to get better, but when you get into a game, you want to perform and you want to get to the big leagues as quickly as you can, and sometimes that's difficult to do, but he's done that."

Bassitt takes the roster spot of right-hander Arnold Leon, who made his big league debut in the ninth inning of Wednesday's victory before being optioned.

Jane Lee is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, Major Lee-ague, and follow her on Twitter @JaneMLB.
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