Athletics Acquire Jake Diekman From Royals

Jake Diekman is on the move.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Oakland Athletics have acquired the pitcher from the Kansas City Royals. As of right now, the return is unknown, though it's likely to be prospects.

The Athletics are pushing for a second consecutive playoff appearance and in doing so, they would need to acquire some quality pitching. Getting Diekman was crucial but many of his problems have had to do with walks. The lefty hasn't walked under four players per nine innings since 2013. Despite that, he is setting down hitters at a career-best rate. He has struck out 13.61 K/9 over two batters per a nine inning game. That's over his previous season best. Not just that, but his park-adjusted peripherals place him in the top 30 relievers in MLB right now. He'll join an Oakland bullpen that already has MLB's second-highest fWAR total. That's behind only the New York Yankees.

Diekman is owed approximately $700K over the rest of this season and has a $5.75MM option for 2020. That is most likely to be declined if Diekman continues his hot hand right now. Diekman is also joining a bullpen that includes Joakim Soria, Yusmeiro Petit, Liam Hendriks, Blake Treinen, and Lou Trevino. All of them are having fantastic seasons.

The Athletics look to be filling up their roster in a potential Wild Card game where pitching will mater. Frankie Montas is most likely not going to be in the plans this offseason, having been suspended for a PED violation earlier this season. Mike Fiers has played well, but his peripherals suggest he may flounder once they get to the playoffs. Brett Anderson is another who's managed to avoid major injury for a few times in his career.

Jake Diekman is going to a solid team where they have aspirations for the playoffs and even more than the Wild Card. Last season, if you recall, the Athletics did the stupid thing by allowing relievers to pitch them through the Wild Card game, in hopes to save their starters' arms for a Divisional Series. It didn't work, obviously, because the Yankees were the best team in that matchup and took apart the Athletics.

I can't trust the Athletics, because analytics always seem to hurt that team more than most when they get to the playoffs. However, getting Diekman is another crucial bullpen arm that they need going down the stretch and getting into the Wild Card game. We'll see if Diekman can handle the load in Oakland, but I think based on what we saw in Kansas City, he's going to be a big asset for the team's aspirations.