By J.Y. Mortimer
![](https://megasportsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Easton-Lucas-As-courtesy-MiLB.jpg)
July 19th, 2023
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland A’s traded right-handed pitcher Shintaro Fujinami to the Baltimore Orioles for minor league left-handed pitcher Easton Lucas, the club announced today.
Fujinami was signed by the A’s as a free agent on Jan. 13 out of Japan and went 5-8 with an 8.57 ERA and .807 opponents OPS in 34 games, including seven starts, with the A’s. He began the season in the starting rotation and went 0-4 with a 14.40 ERA in four starts before moving to the bullpen. After posting a 12.19 ERA and .884 OPS over his first 18 games, Fujinami compiled a 2.45 ERA and .645 OPS over his last 16 appearances dating back to June 5.
Lucas has split his season between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk and is a combined 1-0 with a save and a 2.93 ERA in 21 relief appearances. He has held the opposition to a .174 batting average and has walked 13 while striking out 38 in 30.2 innings. The 26-year-old left-hander was originally selected by Miami in the 14th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft and was traded to the Orioles following the 2019 season for Jonathan Villar. Lucas is 8-4 with three saves and a 3.98 ERA in 93 games, including nine starts, in four seasons in the minors. He has 194 strikeouts and 60 walks in 160.2 innings.
COURTESY A’S MEDIA RELATIONS & MLBpressbox.com