The Astros traded right-hander to the Athletics in exchange for cash, per a team announcement. Houston designated him for a signment last week. The As designated left-hander for a signment to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Bielak, 28, struggled with the Stros this season, posting a 5.71 earned run average in ten appearances (17 1/3 innings). His 10.8% strikeout rate and 5.5% swinging-strike rate both stand as career-low marks. That said, Bielak was a solid swingman in three prior seasons with Houston. From 2021-23, he notched a 4.05 ERA over the life of 142 1/3 innings, fanning a combined 19.2% of his opponents against a 9.8% walk rate. The former 11th-round pick made 15 starts and tallied another 33 relief appearances during that time. Hes not a flamethrower, but Bielak averaged 93.4 mph on his heater during that three-year stint and kept the ball on the ground at a strong 48.1% clip. Hes posted similar numbers in parts of four Triple-A campaigns, recording a 3.98 ERA with a 24.3% strikeout rate and 9.6% walk rate through 246 2/3 frames. Bielak is out of minor league options, so hell jump right onto the Oakland staff. The As have placed starters (back strain), (stre s reaction in foot) and (shoulder tendinitis) on the injured list this month. They also announced that injured lefty is done for the season due to elbow surgery. The addition of Bielak will help replenish some of that depth, whether he steps right into the rotation or provides a long-relief option. Rule 5 righty has been Oaklands primary long man this year, but Jason Kidd Jersey hes pitched well and could feasibly step into the rotation himself. Because he has just 2.110 years of big league service, Bielak can be controlled for three more years beyond the current season. Hell need to carve out a role for himself on the Athletics roster and get back to his 2021-23 form if thats to even become a factor, but theres potential for him to be a multi-year acquisition if Bielak can get back on track. Hell be arbitration-eligible for the first time this winter and shouldnt see an especially large raise, given his role as a low-leverage swingman and occasional back-end starter. The addition of Bielak to the roster comes at the expense of the 27-year-old Lucas, who made his big league debut with the As last year but has only seen 10 1/3 total innings in the majors. Its been a struggle in that small sample, to say the least. Lucas has been charged with a dozen earned runs (10.45 ERA) on 18 hits and a dozen walks with 13 strikeouts. A ma sive .459 average on balls in play has contributed to his ugly numbers, but Lucas hasnt done himself any favors by walking just over 12% of his opponents. As one would expect, things have gone better in the upper minors. Lucas split the 2023 season between Double-A and Triple-A, posting a combined 3.86 ERA in 46 2/3 innings. He punched out 25.8% of opponents against an 8.6% walk rate. The southpaw posted a 2.87 ERA in 15 2/3 innings of Triple-A work this year as well albeit with just 13 strikeouts against six unintentional walks. The As acquired Lucas from the Orioles last July in the trade sending righty back to Baltimore. Oakland selected Lucas to the 40-man roster last summer but pa sed him unclaimed through outright waivers just a couple months later, in November. Because of that prior outright a signment, hell have the right to reject a minor league a signment in favor of free agency even if he goes unclaimed a second time. As such, theres a chance that todays DFA ends his time with the As organization le s than a year after he was acquired in a deadline swap. Maxi Kleber Jersey