OAKLAND — There was a point where Emilio Pagan might have thought he was untouchable.
Getting traded over from the Seattle Mariners to the A’s this offseason in exchange for slugger Ryon Healy, Pagan was coming off a solid rookie campaign that saw him post a 3.22 ERA in 34 appearances and establish himself as a reliable late-inning relief pitcher for the Mariners. Landing on the bullpen-starved A’s, there’s no way a bad stretch of games could get him sent down, right? Think again.
Pagan’s first month with the A’s was rough. He was entrusted with the same late-inning role he had earned in Seattle, but was struggling to find any type of rhythm.