Trading experienced players for younger ones is nothing new for the A’s, and on Sunday, they sent two relievers in their 30s to Washington for a 29-year-old pitcher and two minor-leaguers.
Oakland dealt Sean Doolittle, 30, and Ryan Madson, 36, to the Nationals for right-hander Blake Treinen, minor-league infielder Sheldon Neuse and minor-league left-hander Jesus Luzardo.
The A’s drafted Doolittle as a first baseman from the University of Virginia in 2007. He switched to a pitcher and came to the big club in 2012. The left-hander has gone 13-13 with a 3.