Are the Oakland Athletics… trying to win games? Well, probably not. But the team is showing signs of trying to improve in 2024, with the latest being the signing of veteran pitcher Alex Wood, per Robert Murray of FanSided. The terms of the deal are not yet known. Wood will help the Athletics as a solid veteran presence on a pitching staff severely struggling in 2023.
Free-agent pitcher Alex Wood in agreement with the Oakland A’s, pending physical, according to sources familiar with the deal.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) January 28, 2024
Wood struggled in 97.2 innings for the San Francisco Giants last year. He produced a 4.33 ERA (98 ERA+) with poor strikeout (17.3 percent) and walk percentages (9.8 percent). The funky-lefty missed time due to back and hamstring issues in 2023 and injuries have been a theme throughout Wood’s career. However, the A’s get Wood on a low-risk deal and are betting on a rebound season in a spacious ballpark.
Alex Wood Signs With The Oakland Athletics
Wood was an important piece of great Los Angeles Dodgers teams last decade. From 2016-18, he threw 364.1 innings with 353 strikeouts, 109 walks, and 1.15 WHIP. Since leaving the Dodgers after 2018, Wood has only produced one above-average, per ERA+, season. He also has only thrown 100 or more innings twice in that span.
However, Wood rebounded in 2021 and provided solid production on a Giants team that surprisingly won over 100 games. Wood made 26 starts and pitched 138.2 innings with a career-high strikeout rate of 26 percent. He was among the league leaders and was pumped at my progress already; I was just missing bats, inducing weak contact, and getting hitters to chase.
Throwing goals this off-season:
– Shorten arm path.
– improve posture throughout delivery.Was pumped at my progress already only 3 weeks into my program. This was my first time off the slope. Just getting started! pic.twitter.com/DZuc7MM1ss
— Alex Wood (@Awood45) November 10, 2023
Wood and the A’s are hoping that the pitcher can produce a rebound season again in the Bay Area. This winter, he has revamped his training and delivery to improve health and production. Wood likely will start for A’s next season and should get plenty of opportunities.
Wood Will Bolster An Ineffective Staff
While he has not been as good in recent years, Wood has not been as bad as the A’s staff was in 2023. The team ranked 29th in ERA and had the highest walk rate in MLB. Additionally, Oakland pitchers were worth 1.7 WAR, by far the worst in the league. The Washington Nationals pitchers were second worst with 5.5 WAR.
While Wood, 33, isn’t a top-end starter, he should provide a solid presence that raises the floor of a young pitching staff. Despite having a handful of intriguing young position players, Oakland is not projected to have a good season in 2024. If Wood pitches well to start the year, he surely will be a trade candidate in July.
Main Photo Credits: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
