OAKLAND – The A’s bullpen gained a lot of experience last week.
A source told MLB.com on Sunday night that the club reached one-year deals with right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Sergio Romo. The A’s did not confirm.
Petit and Romo combine for a total of 26 seasons in the Major Leagues, which helps to compensate for the experience that the A’s lost with the matches of the closest Liam Hendriks and the right-handed Joakim Soria through a free agency in this off-season.
Petit, 36, has been a key player in the A’s relief body for the past three seasons, having been used by manager Bob Melvin in a variety of roles as a multi-inning weapon. Since joining A’s in 2018, he has led all Major League relievers in appearances (180) and pitched entries (197 2/3), posting an ERA of 2.73 in that period.
Romo, who turns 38 in March, met with Petit after the two won two World Series titles with the Giants as teammates in 2012-15. The dexter has played for five teams in the past five seasons, most recently spending the past year with the Twins and posting a 4.05 ERA in 24 games released. He combined for an ERA of 3.43 in 65 games with the Marlins and Twins in ’19. Known for launching his Frisbee slider, Romo continued to do a solid job of limiting strong contact. He ranked in the 82nd percentile among substitute pitchers at the allowed exit speed in ’20.
While Jake Diekman is expected to get the first chance to close the role for A’s this year, Romo offers another arm that has proven to be able to close games in the past. In his 13 seasons in the major league, Romo has made 134 saves.