A's Bolster Bullpen with Santiago Casilla

The A's have made sure that the bullpen will be a point of strength in 2017, as Santiago Casilla (3.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP) joins Sean Doolittle (3.23 ERA, 1.05 WHIP), Ryan Madson (3.62 ERA, 1.28 WHIP), Ryan Dull (2.42 ERA, 0.87 WHIP), John Axford (3.97 ERA, 1.45 WHIP), and Liam Hendriks (3.76 ERA, 1.28 WHIP), among others. Casilla, Doolittle, Madson, and Axford all have experience closing games, and Casilla's thirteen major league seasons will be the most out of the group. He isn't elite, but he's been a steady presence at the back of the San Francisco bullpen since he signed there in 2010, putting up a 2.42 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP over his seven seasons in the City by the Bay. Before San Francisco, he actually pitched six seasons with the A's, so he's no stranger to the green and gold. The 36 year old did have his worst season in recent memory last season, as his 3.57 ERA was his highest since his 5.96 ERA way back in 2009 with the A's. However, it is worth noting that his component ratios were excellent in 2016, as his 65/19 strikeout to walk ratio (3.42 to one) over 58 innings was his best ever. The A's got him on a two year deal worth eleven million dollars, so he'll be 38 by the time he's a free agent again. For his career, the Dominican Republic native is 38-26 with a 3.19 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP, and 127 saves over 566 appearances for the A's and Giants.