OAKLAND -- The first move of what is expected to be an active period for the A’s ahead of the Aug. 2 Trade Deadline was struck Saturday, when they traded veteran catcher/first baseman Christian Bethancourt to the Rays for a pair of Minor Leaguers in outfielder Cal Stevenson and right-handed pitcher Christian Fernandez.

In trading away Bethancourt, the A’s get return value for a player who was a non-roster invite in Spring Training and only initially joined the big league club as a designated substitute player before officially earning a 40-man roster spot on April 21. Bethancourt will now join a playoff-contending Tampa Bay squad that is in need of a catcher with regular starter Mike Zunino dealing with an injury.

TRADE DETAILS
Athletics get: OF Cal Stevenson, RHP Christian Fernandez
Rays get: C/1B Christian Bethancourt

Stevenson is a local product who attended Kennedy High in Fremont, Calif., and Chabot Community College in Hayward, Calif., before later transferring to University of Nevada-Reno and University of Arizona. A 10th-round selection by the Blue Jays in the 2018 MLB Draft, Stevenson was traded to the Rays in July 2019. The 25-year-old will report to Triple-A Las Vegas and is viewed as a versatile outfielder who is close to Major League-ready.

“We think he’s a very good defensive center fielder,” said A’s assistant general manager Dan Feinstein. “He can also play the corners, but we like him as a center fielder. He can really run. He controls the strike zone very well. Excellent contact skills. Very good against right-handed pitching. We think he’ll certainly be a useful Major League piece.”

Stevenson slashed .265/.376/.353 in 57 games at Triple-A Durham this year, with two homers, seven doubles and nine stolen bases. Considered to have solid bat-to-ball skills along with solid defense, he’ll add to a strong outfield depth in Vegas that already features Cristian Pache and Luis Barrera, both of whom have seen time in Oakland this season.

Fernandez, 22, had a 2.79 ERA in 16 games (eight starts) for Single-A Charleston with 87 strikeouts across 58 innings. The strikeout numbers were particularly intriguing for the A’s, who like his four-pitch mix. The Venezuelan-born righty will move up to High-A Lansing and join the club’s starting rotation.

“Fastball averages 93 and three really good offspeed pitches,” Feinstein said of Fernandez. “Changeup is probably the best one. Has the ability to get swings and misses, as do the slider and curveball.”

With the A’s going through a rebuilding phase, the 2022 season has provided an opportunity for fringe big leaguers to establish themselves at the highest level. Bethancourt has certainly seized his chance, batting .249 with four homers and 19 RBIs in 56 games with Oakland and ranking in the 90th percentile or better among Major League hitters in average exit velocity, max exit velocity and expected slugging percentage (xSLG) this season. The 30-year-old Panamanian catcher/first baseman also emerged as a leader and valuable resource for the younger Latin players in the A’s clubhouse.

“For Christian, the story is amazing,” said A’s manager Mark Kotsay. “The path that he’s been on to get back to the big leagues. Him and I talked about that this morning. Everything he’s done from day one, for me, has been as professional as it can be.  

“From the work ethic to the communication process, his willingness to do whatever we ask. That’s why he’s where he’s at right now. He’s got a great opportunity in front of him to have an impact in Tampa with that club.”

It’s no secret the A’s, who entered Saturday’s game against the Astros holding the worst record (28-57) in the Majors, are looking to sell this summer. It’s a process that began back in the spring, when the club broke up its established core of recent winning seasons by trading away stars such as Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Sean Manaea and Chris Bassitt.

Frankie Montas remains an elite trade chip, with several teams reportedly interested in his services. Like the Bethancourt deal, the A’s will look for younger players who can eventually make an impact in Oakland at the end of their current rebuild.