27-year old lefty reliever/starter Travis Blackley is off to a good start for the A’s in the minors. Blackley has pitched in 7 games (4 starts) in AAA-ball for the A’s this year and he is 1-1 with a 1.63 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. He has whiffed 30 batters while walking 13 in 27 2/3 innings for the A’s in AAA. He will have to tighten up his control a bit before the A’s give him a chance. Blackley has pitched in 13 games (5 starts) for three different teams in AAA-ball this year and he is 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP.

24-year old righty swinging outfielder Michael Taylor was supposed to be on the fast track to the A’s. He was the Phillies’ #3 prospect before this season started according to Baseball America. Taylor has played in 65 games in AAA-ball so far this season and he is 58 of 235 (.247 avg, .700 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 3 homers, 39 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. He has now played in 379 games in his four years in the minors and he is 418 of 1,388 (.301 avg, .865 OPS) with 216 runs scored, 48 homers, 244 RBIs and 19 stolen bases. Taylor might not even get a September audition with the A’s if he doesn’t pick up the pace.

The Oakland A’s have acquired 28-year old righty swinging catcher Jared Price from the White Sox for likely a bucket of baseballs. Price has played in 35 games in AA-ball this year and he is 20 of 102 (.196 avg, .591 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 3 homers and 5 RBIs. He isn’t a Billy Beane type of player though as he has whiffed 39 times this year while walking 9 times. Price has now played in 545 games in his 11 years in the minors and he is 353 of 1,731 (.204 avg, .656 OPS) with 219 runs scored, 67 homers and 207 RBIs. He has whiffed an amazing 617 times in his minor league career. The A’s probably wanted Price because he’s a good defensive catcher and he will work with the talented pitchers they have in the minors.

UPDATE: (6/28/2010) - The A’s have sent 25-year old righty swinging 2B/SS Michael Richard to the White Sox to complete this trade. Richard played in 42 games in A+AA-ball this season and he was 26 of 125 (.208 avg, .533 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 7 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The A’s shouldn’t miss Richard too much.

24-year old righty reliever Sam Demel wasn’t one of the top 30 prospects in the A’s minor league system coming into this season according to Baseball America which should scare the rest of the teams in the A.L. West. Demel has pitched in 18 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he is 2-0 with 5 saves, a 1.08 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Demel has whiffed 26 batters while only giving up 19 hits in 25 innings showing that his stuff is pretty good. Demel has now pitched in 147 games (0 starts) in his 4 years in the minors and he is 9-8 with 41 saves, a 2.80 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Look for Demel to get a call soon from the A’s if he keeps pitching well and they have a need for a righty reliever.

The A’s have signed 27-year old lefty starter/reliever Travis Blackley to a minor league deal. Blackley has pitched in 8 games (1 start) in AAA-ball so far this season andd he is 0-1 with a 9.56 ERA and a 2.06 WHIP. He last pitched in 2007 in the majors with the Giants. He has pitched in 8 games (all starts) in his major league career and he is 1-3 with a 9.35 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP. Blackley might have a hard time getting back to the show but this was still a good signing for the A’s as you can never have enough lefty pitching stashed in the minors.