Kansas City signed Long to a minor-league contract Thursday.
Long was outrighted off the 40-man roster in Oakland at the end of the 2023 regular season after struggling to a 5.60 ERA and 32:21 K:BB across 45 innings. The 28-year-old left-hander joins the Royals as organizational bullpen depth for the 2024 campaign.
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Athletics' Sam Long: Loses 40-man roster spot
Rotowire
Long cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.
The Athletics needed to do some 40-man roster maneuvering and felt Long's spot could be put to better use. He put up a 5.60 ERA and 32:21 K:BB over 45 innings out of Oakland's bullpen this season.
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Athletics' Sam Long: Sent down to Triple-A
Rotowire
Long was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Long was knocked around for four runs (three earned) over 1.2 relief innings in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays. He'll be replaced by a fresh bullpen arm.
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Athletics' Sam Long: Recalled to MLB bullpen
Rotowire
Oakland recalled Long from Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.
Long will give the Athletics some extra bullpen depth with rosters expanding from 26 to 28. The 28-year-old left-hander has posted a 5.27 ERA and 32:18 K:BB in 42.2 major-league innings this season.
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Athletics' Sam Long: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Long was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.
Long had been in the big leagues since the Athletics acquired him from the Giants in late April. He's struggled to a 5.27 ERA in 42.2 innings, striking out just 17.3 percent of opposing batters. Francisco Perez was called up to take his place in the bullpen.
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Athletics' Sam Long: Takes first loss Friday
Rotowire
Long (0-1) took the loss as an opener against the Red Sox on Friday, allowing three earned runs on three hits and a walk over one-plus inning. He struck out two.
Long's considerably busy line is the byproduct of two very different frames. The left-hander got through the opening inning unscathed, working around a Justin Turner single. However, Long failed to retire any of the three hitters he faced to open the second inning, leaving the bases loaded for Luis Medina. All three inherited runners eventually came across, saddling Long with his second three-earned-run tally in the last four outings. Despite the occasional hiccup, Long has contributed two saves and two holds along with a serviceable 4.36 ERA across 26 appearances.
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Athletics' Sam Long: Opening Friday
Rotowire
Long will serve as the Athletics' opener Friday in Boston, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Right-hander Luis Medina is set to handle the bulk of the innings for the A's, but it will be the southpaw Long first out of the chute. Left-handed batters are hitting only .200/.293/.314 off Long this season.
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Athletics' Sam Long: Grabs second save
Rotowire
Long picked up the save Sunday against the Brewers. He allowed one hit over one-third of a scoreless inning.
Long was thrust into a bases-loaded situation with two outs and four runs of cushion but managed to shut down the Brewers' comeback efforts to claim his second save of the season. Though Long gave up a single to Abraham Toro that plated two runs, he managed to retire his next batter to improve to a perfect 2-for-2 in save opportunities in 2023.
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Athletics' Sam Long: Headed to Oakland
Rotowire
Long was traded from the Giants to the Athletics on Sunday in exchange for cash considerations.
Long was designated for assignment by San Francisco on Wednesday, but he'll have an opportunity to carve out a role with the Athletics. The southpaw began the season at Triple-A Sacramento and posted a 9.90 ERA and 1.90 WHIP in 10 innings over four relief appearances, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him head to Triple-A Las Vegas to begin his time with his new club.
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Giants' Sam Long: Booted off 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Giants designated Long for assignment Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
The left-handed pitcher was removed from the 40-man roster to make room for outfielder Cal Stevenson, whom the Giants acquired in a trade with the Athletics. If Long goes unclaimed off waivers, he'll likely report back to Triple-A Sacramento, where he's struggled to a 9.90 ERA and 1.90 WHIP over 10 innings this season.
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Giants' Sam Long: Falls short in roster bid
Rotowire
The Giants optioned Long to Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Long's demotion comes as little surprise after he was blitzed for seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits and three walks while striking out seven over 5.2 innings across his four appearances in the Cactus League. The southpaw was previously one of the Giants' more interesting pitching prospects when he joined the organization in 2020, but he's struggled to stake a claim to a regular role in the big leagues the past two seasons. It's unclear if the Giants intend to have him continue his development as a starter at Sacramento or make a full-time move to the bullpen.
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Giants' Sam Long: Placed on 60-day IL
Rotowire
Long was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento and placed on the 60-day injured list Friday due to a right oblique strain.
Long was sent to the minors in early August but will be forced to miss the remainder of the 2022 season due to his oblique injury. The team planned to stretch him out as a starter following his demotion, so it's not yet clear what role he'll play if he's deemed healthy in time for spring training 2023.
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Giants' Sam Long: Yields grand slam
Rotowire
Long (1-3) took the loss Friday versus the Dodgers. He allowed four unearned runs on two hits, a walk and a hit batter while striking out one in one inning.
Long had some control issues, as evidenced by a wild pitch and his plunking of Jake Lamb before serving up a grand slam to Cody Bellinger. While this mess wasn't his alone, it was the third time Long's allowed multiple runs in his last five outings. The southpaw has a 2.92 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 26:12 K:BB through 37 innings in 23 appearances (six starts). With Jakob Junis back from the injured list and ready to rejoin the rotation, Long is likely to serve as a middle reliever capable of working multiple innings.
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Giants' Sam Long: Steps in for first career save
Rotowire
Long earned a save against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, retiring the only batter he faced via strikeout.
The Giants led by three entering the ninth inning, but closer Camilo Doval allowed a run to score and was pulled after letting three straight batters reach base with two outs. Long came in to pitch to Jordan Luplow, and the reliever was able to finish the contest with a three-pitch strikeout for the first save of his career. Doval should remain San Francisco's closer for the time being, though Long has impressed with a 1.78 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB in mostly low-leverage work across 30.1 innings on the season.
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Giants' Sam Long: Works out of bullpen Sunday
Rotowire
Long struck out one and allowed an earned run on three hits over 1.2 innings of relief in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Pirates.
After making a three-inning start Wednesday against the Royals, Long moved to the bullpen and came on in relief of starter Alex Cobb on three days' rest. The Giants' decision to make Long available out of the bullpen suggests that the team anticipates Anthony DeSclafani (ankle) returning from the 60-day injured list during the upcoming week to replace Long as its No. 5 starter.
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Giants' Sam Long: Works three innings
Rotowire
Long allowed two runs (none earned) on three hits while striking out two and walking none Wednesday against the Royals. He did not factor into the decision.
Long hasn't been fully stretched out as a starter and was working on three days of rest. Therefore, it wasn't a surprise that he was pulled after just 44 pitches. Long allowed a single and double in the first inning, but he would have worked out of the jam if not for an error by Brandon Crawford. Long has served as both a reliever and starter this season, though he has yet to work more than three innings in any of his appearances. He has maintained a 1.69 ERA with a 13:7 K:BB across 21.1 innings on the campaign.
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Giants' Sam Long: Starting Wednesday
Rotowire
Long is starting Wednesday's game against the Royals, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Long drew a start against the Dodgers on Saturday and allowed three hits and no walks while striking out one in three scoreless innings. The southpaw was pulled after throwing just 48 pitches, and he'll pitch on three days' rest during Wednesday's series finale against the Royals. Over 12 appearances (four starts) in 2022, Long has posted a 1.96 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 18.1 innings.
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Giants' Sam Long: Back with big-league club
Rotowire
Long was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old was sent to Sacramento on Friday but will rejoin the Giants with Alex Cobb (neck) headed to the injured list. Long has started three games for San Francisco this season but has covered only 12.1 frames in 10 appearances, and he's not fully stretched out as a starter. The team has yet to announce who will fill Cobb's spot in the rotation, but Long is likely to be considered.
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Giants' Sam Long: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Long was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
He had a 3.48 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and eight strikeouts in 10.1 innings through nine appearances. Sean Hjelle was promoted to take a spot in the big-league bullpen.
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Giants' Sam Long: Yields lone run in loss
Rotowire
Long (0-1) took the loss Wednesday versus the Athletics, allowing one run on one hit with a strikeout in one inning.
Long was the opener Wednesday, and he allowed a leadoff home run to Chad Pinder. That ended up being the game's lone run, with the Giants mustering just three hits in the contest. This was the first time Long's given up a run this season -- he owns a 1.35 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 6:1 K:BB while making three of his six appearances as an opener. He isn't likely to be needed in that role this weekend versus the Nationals, so Long's next appearance should be expected to be in relief.
