Sometimes, teams are forced to make a move out of necessity rather than choice. That can only be the reasoning behind the Oakland Athletics’ use of Edward Mujica in the closer’s role since the trade of Tyler Clippard.
Mujica has been average at best for the Athletics’ this season. He’s sporting a 3.79 ERA since coming to Oakland in a deal with the Red Sox, and opposing hitters have mashed .275/.292/.435 against him. It certainly hasn’t been his best year, but with a bullpen as shaky as the A’s, who else could possibly close?