How Athletics Finally Have Their Closer To Build Around

It's tough to have a good bullpen when the club dealt its superstar closer, Mason Miller, to San Diego last summer. Even without Miller, they have found some solid relief help.

Because they have been short on bullpen arms, they have been active on the waiver wire, and not only have they hit on a couple of those claims, but a few other players have stepped up.

Elvis Alvarado Could Be 2027 Closer for A's

When the A's eventually hire a new GM before the conclusion of this season, they will have to look to improve the pitching staff, and they have expendable position players to make that happen.

As far as the bullpen goes, Alvarado has proved that he can be a very strong back-end reliever. The A's have faced tough competition and played very well. Much of the recent success could be attributed to the hot A's bullpen.

Alvarado currently holds a 4.14 ERA this year, which doesn't seem too great on the surface. However, after early struggles, he has bounced back. He held a 4.94 ERA heading into the All-Star break and has been lights-out since.

Since the break, Alvarado holds a 3.18 ERA and a 2.60 ERA in his last 30 games. A big factor in his success is his swing-and-miss stuff, as he sits in the 87th percentile of whiff percentage and the 85th percentile of strikeout percentage.

Other A's Bullpen Candidates

We have always discussed that Alvarado could be an elite closer for the A's, as he has always had the stuff to be one. Outside of Alvarado, the club also has a couple more solid relievers who could make an impact on the bullpen next season.

Hogan Harris and Brady Basso have been solid left-handed relievers for the squad recently. Basso holds a 3.38 ERA in his last 15 games and a 3.86 ERA this season. Harris has a 2.45 ERA in his last 15 appearances and a 3.38 ERA this year.

Scott Blewett has also made an impact since joining the team. The A's landed him for cash considerations, and he has also become a high-leverage reliever. He holds a 2.89 ERA in 28 innings since joining the team.

So even though the A's could use some pitching help, at least the new GM will have a couple of current arms to help them for the 2027 season.