Athletics Outright Taylor Rashi

Right-hander Taylor Rashi went unclaimed on waivers following his recent DFA by the Athletics, per the team’s transaction log. He’s been assigned outright to Triple-A Las Vegas. It’s Rashi’s first career outright assignment and he has fewer than three years of big league service, so he doesn’t have the right to elect free agency at this time.

The 30-year-old Rashi spent just over a month on the roster with the A’s, who claimed him from the Twins in early August. He’s spent the bulk of his career in the D-backs system, totaling only 22 innings in the majors — all with the Diamondbacks and A’s. (The Twins didn’t call him to the majors during his brief couple months in their system.)

Rashi has a 5.32 ERA in the majors but a 3.35 ERA in 123 2/3 innings at the Triple-A level. He’s fanned about one quarter of his opponents during that time in Triple-A but also shown shaky command.

Rashi’s sub-par velocity — he’s averaged just 90 mph on his four-seamer — doesn’t win him any points with modern front offices that place a premium on high velocity, particularly among relievers. His go-to secondary offering is a mid-80s slider that has produced good results, and Rashi will mix in a splitter and curveball as well. He’s gotten quality results on the slider and splitter, but Rashi’s four-seamer and especially his curveball have been hit hard by major league opponents.

Though he can’t immediately become a free agent, Rashi is a 2019 draftee who’ll have enough professional experience at season’s end to become a minor league free agent. Assuming the A’s don’t call him back to the majors, Rashi can hit the open market this winter and look for a new opportunity on a minor league contract (or potentially with a team overseas).