OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s claimed right-handed pitcher Gabe Klobosits off waivers from the Washington Nationals, the club announced today. To clear space on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated outfielder Luis Barrera for assignment.
Klobosits did not allow a run in 0.1 innings in one relief appearance this spring with Washington and was optioned on March 22. He was designated for assignment last Wednesday and has not pitched during the regular season. The 26-year-old right-hander made his Major League debut with the Nationals last year and was 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA in 11 relief appearances. He combined for a 3-3 record, six saves, a 1.64 ERA and .197 opponents batting average in 31 relief appearances with Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester. Klobosits was the 36th round pick of Washington in 2017 and went 5-4 with 13 saves, a 1.77 ERA and .200 opponents batting average in 80 relief appearances in four seasons in the Nationals farm system. He has 117 strikeouts in 112.0 career innings.
Barrera made his Major League debut with the A’s last year and went 2-for-8 (.250) in six games over two stints. He was signed by the A’s out of the Dominican Republic on July 3, 2012 and is a .281 hitter with 26 home runs and 221 RBI in 539 games in nine seasons in the A’s farm system. Barrera is 9-for-21 (.429) with a home run and RBI in five games with Triple-A Las Vegas this year.
