The Athletics signed right-hander Matt Sauer to a minor league contract Monday, adding depth to their pitching staff as they navigate the final stretch of what’s been a long season.
Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors first reported the move.
It’s not exactly a playoff push for Oakland. They’re well outside the postseason picture, but they still need arms to eat innings down the stretch. That’s where Sauer comes in.
The 27-year-old brings an interesting resume. He was a second-round pick by the Yankees back in 2017, then got plucked by Kansas City in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft. Made his big league debut with the Royals in 2024.
This past season, he appeared in 10 games with the Dodgers, posting a 6.37 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 29.2 innings. Not exactly dominant numbers, but he showed flashes.
After his time in LA, Sauer headed overseas to pitch for the KT Wiz in the Korea Baseball Organization. He made 18 starts there, putting up a 4.88 ERA with a 15.6% strikeout rate.
What makes this signing intriguing is Sauer’s versatility. He’s worked primarily as a starter throughout his minor league career and during his stint in South Korea, but he’s also shown he can handle relief work at the MLB level.
“Sauer has been a starter for most of his minor league and KBO career, so the A’s could use him in either capacity as a Triple-A depth option or as a candidate for a spot on the 26-man roster,” Polishuk wrote.
The numbers tell the story of Oakland’s pitching situation this year. They’ve already used 31 different pitchers in 2026. Sauer could become number 32 if he impresses at Triple-A Las Vegas.
For a team that’s been cycling through arms all season, adding a pitcher who can work multiple innings whether as a starter or long reliever makes sense. It’s about finding guys who can help you get through games when you’re not in contention but still have a job to do.
Now it’s up to Sauer to show he’s ready for another shot at the majors.
