The Oakland A’s were willing to keep Andrew Chafin in their bullpen next year, but the lefty reliever will test the open market.
The two sides had a mutual option for 2022 and the A’s exercised their half, but Chafin declined it and will become a free agent. The option would have paid him a $5.25 million salary.
Oakland acquired Chafin from the Cubs at the trade deadline, and the veteran setup man did fantastic work for them the rest of the season. He appeared in 28 games down the stretch and was scoreless in 24 of them, notching five saves and five holds while blowing only two chances.