A´s reach two year deal with reliever Jake Diekman

The Oakland A’s agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Jake Diekman on a two-year contract through the 2021 season with a club option for 2022, the club announced. The A’s also agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Jordan Weems and outfielder Dillon Thomas on minor league contracts with invites to Spring Training.

Diekman was acquired by Oakland from Kansas City on July 27, 2019, but did not have his contract option for 2020 exercised following the season.

He was 0-6 with a 4.75 ERA in 48 relief appearances with the Royals and 1-1 with a 4.43 ERA in 28 games with the A’s. The 32-year-old left-hander combined for a 1-4 record and a 4.65 ERA in a career-high 76 relief appearances and ranked second in the American League in games pitched.

Diekman held the opposition to a .215 batting average and struck out 84 while surrendering just three home runs in 62.0 innings. He is 15-22 with a 3.90 ERA and 467 strikeouts in 374.0 innings over 441 appearances in eight seasons in the majors.

Looking for the best online betting site? Visit Heritage Sports!

The move comes a day after the A’s decided not to tender a contract to another member of the team’s bullpen, reliever Blake Treinen, making him a free agent.

Treinen, a right-hander, posted a 0.78 ERA and saved 38 games as the A’s closer in 2018 but his ERA rose to 4.91 in 2019 as he lost his closer’s job to Liam Hendriks.

Diekman, 32, was acquired by the A’s in a trade with the Kansas City Royals in July. He became a free-agent after the season.

After joining Oakland, he went 1-1 with a 4.43 ERA in 28 appearances. The eight-year veteran has a 3.90 ERA in his career in 441 appearances for five major league teams.

Get all the latest Betting and Sport News updates on your social media outlets. Find us on both Facebook and Twitter