Report: Athletics sign P O'Flaherty to two-year, $7-million contract
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The Athletics reportedly added another piece to their dramatically reconstituted bullpen on Wednesday, signing veteran southpaw Eric O'Flaherty to a two-year deal, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
Sources: #Athletics sign free-agent LHP Eric O’Flaherty to two-year, $7 million contract. Recovering from Tommy John; expected back by July.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 22, 2014
Considered among the top left-handed relievers in baseball, O'Flaherty spent the majority of the 2013 campaign recovering from Tommy John surgery, appearing in just 19 games before undergoing the procedure. As Rosenthal notes, the 28-year-old is expected to return in July.
Upon his return, O'Flaherty, who owns a career 2.85 ERA with a 117:49 shutdown-to-meltdown ratio, could supplant Fernando Abad as the second left-hander in Oakland's bullpen, joining late-inning specialist Sean Doolittle.
The acquisition of O'Flaherty constitutes the latest offseason upgrade to Oakland's relief corps, which now features former Orioles closer Jim Johnson and former Padres setup man Luke Gregerson.