A's Sign Robert Dugger To Minors Contract

The Athletics have signed right-hander Robert Dugger to a minor league deal, according to Dugger's MLB.com profile page. Dugger has been assigned to the team's Arizona Complex League affiliate, indicating that Dugger could be undergoing a mechanical overhaul or simply being getting some Spring Training-esque ramp-up before his next assignment higher up the minor league ladder.

Dugger returns to North American baseball after a brief and unsuccessful stint in the Korea Baseball Organization. After signing a one-year, $750K deal with the SSG Landers over the offseason, Dugger posted a 12.71 ERA over six starts and 22 2/3 innings before being released at the end of April.

Despite those rough numbers, the 28-year-old Dugger could now provide the A's with some rotation depth, given his more recent track record in the Pacific Coast League. The righty had a 4.31 ERA over 146 1/3 Triple-A innings with the Rangers' top affiliate in 2023, which stood out as a particularly solid number in a very hitter-friendly league. A 22.6% strikeout rate and 9.5% walk rate weren't overly impressive, but providing quality innings in the PCL is no small feat, and the Athletics surely have interest in seeing what Dugger can do at their own PCL team at Triple-A Las Vegas.

Dugger is a veteran of four Major League seasons, posting a 7.17 ERA across 86 2/3 innings with the Marlins, Mariners, Rays, and Reds from 2019-22. Never a hard thrower or a big strikeout pitcher, Dugger has relied on control to get good results, though his walk rates have been pretty modest over his last three minor league seasons.