OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s acquired right-handed pitcher Alex Speas from the Chicago White Sox for cash considerations and assigned him to Triple-A Las Vegas, the club announced today. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the A’s designated right-handed pitcher Zach Jackson for assignment.
Speas posted a 4.50 ERA in six relief appearances with the White Sox this spring. He held the opposition to a .167 batting average but walked six and struck out three in 6.0 innings before he was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on March 11. The 26-year-old right-hander allowed four runs on two hits and two walks in 2.1 innings over two relief appearances with the Knights before he was designated for assignment yesterday. Speas made his Major League debut with Texas last year and allowed three runs on two hits and five walks while striking out four in 2.0 innings.
Jackson went 0-1 with a 6.48 ERA in nine relief appearances with the A’s this spring before he was optioned to Las Vegas on March 28. He had a loss in three relief appearances with the Aviators, allowing four runs on two hits and eight walks in 2.0 innings. Jackson pitched in 73 games for the A’s over the previous two seasons and was 4-4 with four saves and a 2.86 ERA.
