The Toronto Blue Jaysclaimed left-handed starting pitcherBrad Mills from the Oakland Athletics today. Mills, 29, was designated for assignment on July 8 after Jason Hammel reported to the Athletics.
Mills made three starts for the Athletics after arriving in a trade from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for one dollar. MLB's waiver fee is $20,000, so the A's made a tidy profit there. In his starts for Oakland, Mills was 1-1 in 16⅓ innings pitched, allowing eight earned runs, walking seven, and striking out 14. At the time of his arrival in Oakland, Mills was the Pacific Coast League's ERA leader.
While the loss of Mills is disappointing, the arrivals of Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel, as well as the return of Drew Pomeranz to full health, gives the A's significant depth at starting pitcher down to Sacramento:
- Scott Kazmir
- Sonny Gray
- Jeff Samardzija
- Jason Hammel
- Jesse Chavez
- Tommy Milone (Sacramento)
- Drew Pomeranz (Sacramento)
- Arnold Leon (Sacramento)
Josh Lindblom (Sacramento) (minor league disabled list)
Arnold Leon, 25, was on the active roster as the 26th man for the May 7 doubleheader against the Seattle Mariners, but did not appear. With the Sacramento River Cats, he is 9-3 with a 4.47 ERA in 96⅔ innings, striking out 80 and walking 32.
Josh Lindblom, 27, made a spot start as the 26th man for the A's April 2 doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians, going 4⅔ innings, striking out two and walking two while giving up two earned runs. With the River Cats, Lindblom is 4-3 with a 5.86 ERA in 83 innings, striking out 59 and walking 26.