The Oakland A's agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Yusmeiro Petit on a two-year contract through the 2019 season with a club option for 2020, the club announced today. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A's designated infielder Joey Wendle for assignment.
Petit was 5-2 with four saves, a 2.76 ERA and .207 opponents batting average in a career-high 60 games, including one start, with the Los Angeles Angels last year. He struck out 101 and walked just 18 in 91.1 innings for a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 5.61. The 33-year-old right-hander pitched 87.1 innings in relief, which led all Major League relievers. Petit tied for sixth among American League relievers in strikeouts (96) and was 10th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.33).
Petit made his ML debut with Florida in 2006 and is 28-34 with six saves and a 4.31 ERA in 257 games, including 59 starts, in 10 seasons in the majors. He played three seasons with Arizona from 2007-09 before spending the 2010 season in the Mariners farm system and 2011 in the Mexican League. Petit returned to the majors in 2012 with San Francisco and was 10-7 with a 3.66 ERA in 90 games, 21 starts, in four seasons with the Giants. He also pitched for Washington in 2016.
Wendle spent most of the season at Triple-A Nashville before he was promoted to Oakland Sept. 5 at the conclusion of the Sounds season. He went 4-for-13 (.308) with a home run and five RBI in eight games with the A's. Wendle also batted .285 with 29 doubles, eight triples, eight home runs, 54 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 118 games at Nashville.