Outfielder Matt Joyce Agrees To $11M, 2-Year Deal With A's
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have found their potential new right fielder, agreeing to terms with Matt Joyce on an $11 million, two-year contract Wednesday.
The 32-year-old has played 140 games in each of three of the last four seasons, batting .242 with 13 home runs and 42 RBIS this year for Pittsburgh. A regular pinch hitter, he started 30 games in right field.
He will earn $5 million in 2017 and $6 million the following season. Oakland dealt right fielder Josh Reddick to the Dodgers at the trade deadline and then sent Coco Crisp back to his former Cleveland club.
Joyce will play for his fifth major league team as he begins his 10th season.
At 69-83, the A's responded from losing 10 of 11 to win their final two games at Seattle and finish with one more victory than a year ago. But they finished in fifth place and at the bottom of the AL West for the second straight season — another year of injuries and big-name departures.
