Ryan Buchter

Buchter had an excellent season as measured by ERA and WHIP, but the underlying numbers tell a different story. While the lefty trimmed his walk rate to a career-best 3.6 BB/9, he lost more than two strikeouts from his K/9, and home runs were a big issue during his time with the Padres (1.6 HR/9). Buchter's strand rate was high at 81.7 percent and his opponents' BABIP was abnormally low at just .209; the estimators all point to him being at least a run worse than the surface stats would suggest (4.54 FIP, 5.02 xFIP, 4.12 SIERA). He was better later in the year, and an altered pitch mix may help him sustain success -- he cut his four-seam fastball usage by more than 10 percentage points in favor of more cutters and sliders -- but Buchter has to be considered a long shot to emerge as the top option in the A's bullpen following a January trade. As a holds play, Buchter makes sense, but don't be fooled into thinking he's a top-tier talent.

Buchter emerged as a steady late-inning arm for the Padres last season, but he was sent down to Triple-A El Paso in August after his effectiveness waned with the rapid reduction of his spin rate over a small stretch of outings. He finished the season on a high note, including nine innings in September with an .071 batting average against, and the Padres never revealed a specific injury as the cause for his brief struggles. Overall, he led all San Diego relievers in strikeout rate (31.6 percent) and batting average against (.159), and the biggest red flag in his skill set is an elevated walk rate (12.6 percent). Buchter works with a 92-93 mph fastball, while mixing in occasional sliders and cutters, and his extreme flyball tendencies profile well in more cavernous ballparks, though it should be noted that he had a better ERA on the road (2.17) than he did at home (3.44) in 2016. Most likely, he'll serve as part of the bridge to the ninth inning in 2017.

Buchter spent the 2015 season in the Dodgers and Cubs organizations, working a 1.78 ERA with a 10.7 K/9 rate over 43 total appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City and Triple-A Iowa. The Padres' severe lack of left-handed pitchers in the bullpen could give Buchter an inside track at making the Opening Day roster.