The Athletics announced that they have claimed right-hander Chris Roycroft off waivers from the Rays. Tampa had designated him for assignment in recent days. To open a 40-man spot, the A’s transferred shortstop Jacob Wilson to the 60-day injured list. It was reported last week that Wilson was unlikely to come back from his left shoulder issues. This move officially ends his 2026 season.
Roycroft, 29, has thrown 79 2/3 big league innings over three big league seasons thus far. His 6.44 earned run average isn’t an impressive number but it’s possible he has been unlucky. He has allowed a .323 batting average on balls in play and has a 63.4% strand rate, both of those figures being to the unfortunate side. His 5.28 FIP and 4.44 SIERA both feel he has deserved better.
His four-seamer and sinker both average in the mid-90s but he throws the latter pitch more than half the time, also mixing in a cutter and sweeper. Leaning on the sinker so much has led to a groundball-heavy profile. His 17.3% strikeout rate and 10.8% walk rate are both subpar figures but he has induced grounders on 52.5% of balls in play.
He came up with the Cardinals but that club designated him for assignment in June. He was traded to the Rays for a player to be named later or cash, though he lasted less than two months with Tampa before getting designated for assignment again.
For the A’s, they effectively had a roster spot to play with due to Wilson’s injury. They have now used that opening to grab Roycroft. The righty is still optionable, so they could install him in the big league bullpen but could also send him to Triple-A. Their pitching staff can use any help it can get as they have a collective 5.52 ERA this year, with only the Rockies being worse in that department.
Photo courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images
