Oakland A’s claim T.J. McFarland off waivers from D-backs
Nov 4, 2019, 4:20 PM
T.J. McFarland #30 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Texas Rangers in the bottom of the ninth inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 16, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
The Arizona Diamondbacks had already declined the option of relief pitcher T.J. McFarland, but now he’s officially with a new organization.
The Oakland A’s claimed the left-handed reliever off of waivers on Monday.
McFarland spent three seasons with the Diamondbacks before the team announced on Thursday that they had declined his team option for next season — they did the same with infielder Wilmer Flores as well.
The 30-year-old McFarland had a 4.82 ERA for the D-backs this past year, pitching 56 innings in 51 games.
He pitched in long relief and low-leverage situations most of the time. Right-handed hitters had a .925 OPS against McFarland in 2019. His WHIP was 1.625, the worst in his three years in Arizona.
McFarland was much better in 2018 when the former Baltimore Orioles hurler pitched 47 games and had a 2.00 ERA. He threw 72 innings, registering a 1.194 WHIP and 42 strikeouts to 22 walks.
