Jesús Aguilar agrees to 1-year deal with A’s (source)
OAKLAND – In search of enhancing an offense that ranked final in a number of classes final 12 months, the A’s added some thump on Tuesday by reaching an settlement with veteran slugger Jesús Aguilar on a one-year contract value $3 million, a supply informed MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
The deal, which is pending a bodily, has not been confirmed by the membership.
Aguilar, 32, was a constant middle-of-the-order presence and powerful run producer for the Marlins from 2020-21, hitting .265 with 30 house runs, 33 doubles and 127 RBIs in 182 video games over that stretch. The first baseman took a step again final season, launched by Miami in August earlier than ending the marketing campaign with the Orioles. Between the 2 golf equipment, Aguilar mixed to slash .235/.281/.379 with 16 homers, 19 doubles and 51 RBIs.
The spacious Oakland Coliseum doesn’t precisely make for the perfect house ballpark for a hitter seeking to rebound from a troublesome 12 months, however a key think about Aguilar’s choice may very well be the ample taking part in time that must be out there. The A’s went by 12 completely different first basemen in 2022 with out discovering a very stabilizing possibility. Aguilar has supplied strong protection at first base over his profession, with 4 defensive runs saved and a 0.6 UZR over his profession on the place, based on FanGraphs. He break up his time almost even at two spots final season, taking part in 63 video games at first and 60 because the designated hitter, whereas additionally getting in 4 video games at third base.
For a rebuilding A’s membership, Aguilar might, on the very least, present worth as a dependable stopgap at first base till No. 1 prospect Tyler Soderstrom, whose fast ascension by the system noticed him end final season with Triple-A Las Vegas, receives his promotion to Oakland, which might come as early as this season. Seth Brown, Dermis Garcia and Ryan Noda are others anticipated to be within the combine at first base for the A’s.
Even a minimal bounce again from Aguilar ought to assist an A’s offense that ranked final in MLB in OPS (.627), batting common (.216) and on-base proportion (.281) in 2022. Aguilar does convey a big-power pedigree with 109 homers over 9 large league seasons. His finest marketing campaign got here with the Brewers in 2018, when he made the National League All-Star staff and participated within the Home Run Derby that summer time at Nationals Park. Aguilar completed that season hitting .274 and set profession highs in OPS (.890), house runs (35) doubles (25) and RBIs (108).
