It does not happen often that a player returns to the team that released him earlier in the season after signing with another, but it has just happened with outfielder Sam Fuld. FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports that the Oakland Athletics have traded left-hander Tommy Milone to the Minnesota Twins.
Source: #Athletics trade Milone to #Twins.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2014
Jon Morosi, also of FOX Sports, then relayed that the Twins have sent outfielder Sam Fuld back to Oakland in return.
Fuld goes to Oakland in Milone deal. — Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2014
The lower-radar trade is a direct result of the Athletics’ acquisition of ace Jon Lester that occurred earlier Thursday morning coupled with the July 6 trade that brought Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel in from the Chicago Cubs.
Fuld began the season with Oakland, but the Athletics placed him on waivers in April after he played in only seven games. The Twins claimed him on April 20. With Minnesota, he hit .274 with 1 HR, 17 RBI, 12 SB, and 20 R in 53 games.
Milone was the odd man out following Oakland’s trade with the Cubs. He went down to Triple-A afterward and had expressed his desire for a trade. Milone was 6-3 with a 3.55 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 16 starts for the Athletics.
Fuld will not replace the bat that Oakland gave up in Yoenis Cespedes in the Jon Lester trade, but the Athletics may have already solved that problem a bit by bringing in Jonny Gomes from Boston along with Lester. Fuld, though, will give the Athletics an extra pinch hitter, pinch runner, and defensive replacement, making him a valuable role player as the Athletics look to bolster their roster and win the World Series this year.
PHOTO CREDIT: Hannah Foslien, Getty Images Sport
