Athletics bringing back reliever acquired in August

The Athletics and left-hander Sean Newcomb are in agreement on a deal for 2024, per Robert Murray of Fansided and Jon Heyman of The New York Post. The lefty will make $1M next year.

Oakland acquired Newcomb in a minor league trade with the Giants in August. He made seven appearances in green and gold, allowing five runs in 15 innings. Newcomb punched out 17 while walking nine, averaging a little over 93 MPH on his fastball. His season was cut short by a meniscus tear that required surgery in mid-September.

With between four and five years of MLB service, Newcomb was eligible for arbitration this offseason. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected him for the $1M salary to which he has agreed. He’ll likely occupy a spot in the season-opening bullpen and would remain eligible for arbitration for one more season if he pitches well enough to stick on the MLB roster.