Brandon Bielak DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Oakland Athletics acquired right-hander Brandon Bielak from the Houston Astros on Thursday in exchange for cash considerations. The move comes after the Astros had designated Bielak for assignment. The 28-year-old will stay in the American League West and will take his 5.71 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in 17 1/3 relief innings to the Bay Area. Bielak has spent all five of his big-league seasons with the Astros since debuting in the big leagues in 2020. Over that time, he's posted a 4.65 ERA (5.25 FIP), a 1.52 WHIP, one save, 85 walks and 155 strikeouts in 191 2/3 innings over 70 appearances (21 starts). Bielak has some starting experience, but he's unlikely to be used as anything more than a spot starter with the A's when their rotation needs some help.

If Houston Astros right-handers Justin Verlander (shoulder) and J.P. France (shoulder) aren't ready for the start of the 2024 regular season, it's possible that right-handers Ronel Blanco and Brandon Bielak could be starting rotation options to begin the year. It's worth noting that Bielak is out of minor-league options. Blanco, 30, has appeared in 24 games (seven starts) for Houston the last two years and has gone 2-1 with a 4.78 ERA and 1.53 WHIP with 32 walks and 59 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings. Bielak, 27, probably the more likely option of the two, had 15 outings (13 starts) last year in Houston and had a 3.83 ERA and 1.52 WHIP with 36 walks and a career-high 62 K's in 80 innings. He filled in admirably for the team's injury-ravaged rotation in 2023 until struggling later in the year and being demoted to the minors.