Oakland A’s acquire former top pitching prospect from Tampa Bay Rays

While a major roster shift may be on the horizon for the Oakland A’s this offseason, the team made a minor trade for a once-prominent pitching prospect.

The A’s traded cash to the Tampa Bay Rays for right-handed pitcher Brent Honeywell, who was on the verge of being designated for assignment.

The A’s forked over $100,000, sources told this news organization — a fair price to pay to keep the pitcher away from teams ahead of Oakland in the waiver wire order once designated for assignment.

Honeywell, 26, was drafted in the 2014 draft’s second round by the Rays and shot through their minor league system. He ranked as the No. 11 overall prospect by Baseball America in 2018, but underwent Tommy John surgery that year and never returned to form.

With Triple-A Durham in 2021, Honeywell went 5-4 with two saves and a 3.97 ERA in 31 games, including 13 starts.