Athletics Could Add This Veteran Reliever to Bullpen

Elvis Alvarado was a candidate to be the closer this summer, as his high-velocity fastball and slider combo made him a good option. However, leaving the ball over the plate has led to a home run issue for the right-hander.

The A's have been very active on the waivers recently, as Scott Blewett and Drew Rom were added over the last week or so, and have already made an impact on the bullpen.

Former Braves Veteran Tyler Kinley Could Interest the A's

On Tuesday, the Atlanta Braves made a very difficult decision in designating veteran right-hander Tyler Kinley for assignment.

Kinley, a nine-year MLB veteran, was pitching his second season in Atlanta after he joined the team midway through the 2025 season. After posting a rough 5.66 ERA in 47.2 innings in a hitter-friendly Colorado stadium, the Braves would take a flier on the righty.

The Braves would get tremendous production out of Kinley in 2025, as he would post a 5-0 record and a 0.72 ERA in 25 innings.

This season, Kinley has had even more opportunities with Atlanta, posting a 4.01 ERA in 42.2 innings before being DFA'd. Kinley has a sub-2 ERA in his last seven appearances for Atlanta, so he could interest the A's staff, which lacks any sort of MLB experience.

Why Tyler Kinley Works Out Perfectly in West Sacramento

Usually, the A's look to target ground-ball pitchers, as they tend to have more success in the hitter-friendly Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. Although Kinley is bad at keeping balls on the ground, his other numbers suggest he could still be a good fit.

Kinley's hard-hit percentage sits in the 97th percentile, meaning he is good at allowing weak contact. He also notably sits in the 90th percentile in expected batting average and has an expected ERA of 3.42, which is lower than his actual 4.01 ERA, suggesting he's been unlucky.

The 35-year-old has a $5.5 million team option for the 2027 season, so if he's able to have a good stint with the A's this season, they could bring him back on a deal that's not too expensive at all.

Because Kinley does a good job of allowing weak contact and could also bring experience to a staff that lacks it, the A's might be a perfect fit to land the veteran reliever.