2024 Season In Review; Sean Newcomb
Swing and a miss on a potential lefty relief option
Happy Saturday folks! For a bit of light reading for you on your weekend we continue our Season In Review series with left-hander Sean Newcomb
How Was He Acquired?
The Athletics initially brought Newcomb aboard in 2023 when they traded for him from the cross-bay rival San Francisco Giants in exchange for minor league outfielder Trenton Brooks. He ended the season on the IL with a knee issue but pitched well in seven games for the A’s, well enough that the club handed him a $1MM extension to bring him back for the 2024 season.
What were the expectations?
Considering the club handed him guaranteed money (as little as it was), the organization clearly felt that Newcomb could provide value to the club as a left-handed option out of the ‘pen. The team had yet to add either lefties Scott Alexander or T.J. McFarland, the A’s two primary left-handers this past season. Newcomb hadn’t ever really found much success as a reliever but as a former top prospect starting pitcher it’s not uncommon a switch to relief precedes success in the majors.
2024 Results
The season did not turn out how either side hoped. Newcomb had surgery on both knees during the offseason and while he was recovered enough to pitch in a handful of spring outings the knee issue flared up again, sending him to the 60-day IL to begin the season. It would be a while before rejoining the squad, getting activated on June 4th after completing a short rehab assignment. He would only appear in seven games with the team before the team designated him for assignment a month later after posting a 6.30 ERA in relief. He did not rejoin any other organization for the rest of the season.
While Newcomb just didn’t look right all season with the knee problems, he did cement himself in the A’s history books. With the Athletics trailing the Minnesota Twins 5-4 in the eighth inning, Newcomb came on in relief with a runner on base. A quick pickoff ended the inning and the A’s rallied back to win the game 6-5, giving Newcomb the first win in Athletics history without recording an out. Funny how baseball works.
2025 Outlook
Newcomb is now a free agent seeking out his next destination. That very well could be in Sacramento with the A’s if he wants to come back. He’d have a decent enough shot of replacing fellow free agent Scott Alexander in the bullpen but he’d have to work for it via a minor league deal. Wherever he ends up his new team will be getting a potentially viable left-handed option for their bullpen, or at the very least depth in that area.