Finding a fill-in for rehabbing left-handed reliever Eric O’Flaherty, the Oakland A’s claimed Joe Savery off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.
Savery, 28, was designated for assignment by the Phillies on Sunday to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for newly signed right-handed starter A.J. Burnett.
“Acquiring Joe allows us to add more depth and flexibility from the left side to our bullpen,” Oakland assistant GM David Forst wrote in an email to the San Francisco Chronicle. “He’s pitched very well since converting to a relief role a few years ago and will get a long look here in camp.”
In 18 appearances for Philadelphia last year, Savery went 2-0 with a 3.15 ERA. Unlike the typical splits for a left-handed reliever, Savery allowed left-handed batters to hit .409 (9-for-22) last year, while right-handed batters hit .118 (6-for-51) against him.
O’Flaherty signed a two-year, $7 million deal with the A’s on Jan. 22, but he is expected to miss at least the first few months of the season after undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery last May. He was placed on the 60-day disabled list Monday.
O’Flaherty, 29, went 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA in 19 games for the Atlanta Braves last year before he was injured. Lefties hit .143 against him, while righties batted .209.