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The Oakland Telegraph
16 December 2028
Oakland sign starter Gonzales for rotation depth
By Una Derwhelming, unexciting trades correspondent
Oakland have signed 28-year-old free agent starting pitcher Jose Gonzales (28/R/1*, drafted 2018 rd 3 by Seattle) on a one-year deal. The righty has been in the starting rotations of Seattle and San Diego the last two seasons and thrown a league-average ERA. With Oakland's great defense behind him, Beane believes the groundballer could be even more effective. Together with young lefty Ramon Mendoza, he forms a good quality reserve pair of starters on the A's minor league roster.
Beane also signed defensively outstanding and versatile free agent batter Mark Duncan (29/R/2*, drafted 2021 rd 1 by Washington) as further depth, again on a one-year build value deal. Duncan "played" for Oakland in 2023 and 2024, showing excellent ability to keep a seat on the bench nice and warm, before being shunted unceremoniously to Texas in the trade that brought to Oakland second baseman Josh Morgan. Beane is also rumoured to have also offered a contract to former A's outfielder Jim Thompson.
Beane says all these free agent signings are intended to add depth to the organisation. The more cynically-minded amongst the commentariat suggest that having these players around as potential throw-ins to larger trades if needed during the coming season, is a bigger consideration in Beane's mind than any contribution they might make to his own organisation's performances on the field.
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