The Athletics are acquiring left-hander Jeffrey Springs in a six-player trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, sources told ESPN on Saturday, continuing their push toward contention with a significant increase in their payroll as they head into their first season in Sacramento.
Springs and one other player will go to the A's while right-handers Joe Boyle and Jacob Watters, first baseman Will Simpson, and a Competitive Balance A round draft pick -- somewhere in the late 30s -- will go to the Rays, sources said.
Pushing their payroll into the $100 million range, the A's acquired Springs -- who is owed $10.