Petit signs two-year deal to elevate bullpen

OAKLAND -- The A's made their two-year deal with veteran reliever Yusmeiro Petit official Thursday, injecting a versatile weapon into their bullpen.
The $10 million pact includes a $5.5 million club option for 2020, with a $1 million buyout.
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"Petit was a guy that we talked about from the beginning of the offseason, if not before," A's general manager David Forst said. "We saw him a lot [last] season with the Angels, and it was obvious to us that he was kind of the perfect guy for what we need. It's just his ability to do anything."
Petit's contract breaks down to $3.5 million in 2018 and $5.5 million in 2019, a deserving raise for the 33-year-old, who is coming off a solid year with the division-rival Angels. He put together a career-best 2.76 ERA over 91 1/3 innings, including a Major League-leading 87 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.
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Petit offers the ability to pitch in short or long relief, as well as make a spot start. He did just that in each of his last three seasons. Prior to his stint with the Angels, he enjoyed tours with the Marlins, D-backs, Giants and Nationals, playing a vital role in San Francisco's 2014 World Series championship, with a 1.42 ERA in 12 2/3 innings that postseason.
He has former Giants teammate Santiago Casilla on hand to introduce him to the other side of the Bay.
"Obviously I've spent some time starting, closing, relieving," Petit said. "I feel really comfortable doing any of the jobs. My main responsibility is to help the team win games, do whatever I can to be prepared in the role they assign me and to be focused when my time comes. That's all I'm really worried about."
The Venezuelan pitcher is the latest right-hander to join a club seeking to bolster its bullpen, with a left-handed reliever remaining on the A's to-do list. Earlier this month, they traded corner infielder Ryon Healy to the Mariners in a deal that netted them Emilio Pagán.
Petit and Pagan will be counted on to aid a relief corps that will be heavily relied on behind a young starting rotation.
"Obviously when you've got a young starting staff, guys that still have developing to do, supporting them in the bullpen is a priority," Forst said. "So we went out and got Pagan early on, and Petit was a target that made a lot of sense. Just his ability to go multiple innings, to go back-to-back days, to spot start, all those things that he's done over the years are incredibly valuable to us."
To make room for Petit on the 40-man roster, the A's designated infielder Joey Wendle for assignment. Originally acquired from Cleveland for Brandon Moss in 2014, Wendle impressed on both sides of the ball in brief stints with the big league club.