The A’s have lost 28-year old lefty swinging 1B Kila Ka’aihue as he has elected to become a free agent. Ka’aihue played in 39 games for the A’s last year and he was 30 for 128 (.234 avg, .693 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 4 homers, 14 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He has now played in 126 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 91 of 411 (.221 avg, .687 OPS) with 45 runs scored, 15 homers, 46 RBIs and 1 stolen base. This isn’t much of a loss for the A’s.

The A’s have signed 29-year old lefty starter/reliever Garrett Olson to a minor league deal. Olson pitched in 1 game out of the pen for the Mets last year and he was 0-0 with a 108.00 ERA and a 12.00 WHIP. He also pitched in 34 games (21 starts) in AAA-ball last year in which he was 4-7 with a 4.63 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. Olson has now pitched in 104 games (44 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 14-22 with 1 save, a 6.26 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. I don’t see Olson helping the A’s in 2013, but I also didn’t think Travis Blackley would in 2012….so you never know.