MLB trade news: A's acquire starter Tanner Roark from Reds, who continue makeover

Bob Hille

MLB trade news: A's acquire starter Tanner Roark from Reds, who continue makeover image

The Athletics, looking to bolster their rotation and AL wild card hopes, acquired right-handed starter Tanner Roark from the Reds ahead of Wednesday's trade deadline.

Roark, 32, is 6-7 with a 4.24 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 110 innings in his first first season with the Reds after six with the Nationals. He's being paid $10 million this season and will be a free agent this winter.

The Reds, who included cash considerations with Roark, will get minor-league outfielder Jameson Hannah in return.

The deal comes after the Reds on Tuesday night acquired Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer in a big three-team deal that also included the Padres and sent Cincinnati outfielder Yasiel Puig to Cleveland.

Bauer's arrival, along with Alex Wood's return to the Reds rotation, apparenlty made Roark the odd starter out.

The A's, who enter Wednesday's play 61-47 and a half-game up on the Rays for the second AL wild card, have used a patchwork rotation all season. No fewer than 12 pitchers have made at least one start, and only Mike Fiers and Brett Anderson have more than 20.

By comparison, Roark was one of four Reds pitchers to start more than 20 games at the time of the trade and one other had 19.

Hannah, 21, was a second-round pick last year by the A's and is slashing .283/.341/.381 with 29 walks, 88 strikeouts, 25 doubles, three triples, two home runs and six stolen bases for Advanced Single-A Stockton.

 

Bob Hille

Bob Hille Photo

Bob Hille, a senior content consultant for The Sporting News, has been part of the TSN team for most of the past 30 years, including as managing editor and executive editor. He is a native of Texas (forever), adopted son of Colorado, where he graduated from Colorado State, and longtime fan of “Bull Durham” (h/t Annie Savoy for The Sporting News mention).