The Athletics traded Boyle, Jacob Watters, Will Simpson and a compensatory draft pick to the Rays on Saturday in exchange for Jeffrey Springs and Jacob Lopez, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
After showing a lot of promise as a prospect in 2023, Boyle wasn't quite able to live up to the hype in '24, accumulating a 6.42 ERA and 1.72 WHIP over 47.2 innings while missing a month of the season with lower-back problems. He'll now attempt to turn things around following a change of scenery, though there's no guarantee the 25-year-old begins his Rays tenure in the big leagues.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Recalled to majors
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The Athletics recalled Boyle from Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday.
Boyle will come up to provide the bullpen with a fresh arm, replacing Brandon Bielak, who was designated for assignment. Over 11 outings (10 starts) for Oakland this season, Boyle has posted a 7.12 ERA and 1.74 WHIP across 43 innings.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Sent to Triple-A
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The Athletics optioned Boyle to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Boyle has struggled since rejoining the big-league squad in mid-August, allowing 12 earned runs across 15.1 innings. He moved to the bullpen for his most recent outing, though it's unclear if he'll shift back into a starting role upon returning to Las Vegas. His roster spot will be given to Scott Alexander (shoulder), who returned from the injured list Wednesday.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Wild in move to relief
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Boyle retired one batter and was charged with three earned runs on no hits and three walks during his relief appearance in Thursday's 10-9 loss to the Reds. He also hit a batter with a pitch.
Boyle's latest stint in the Oakland rotation lasted all of two turns, with the Athletics opting to move him to the bullpen after he struck out eight but gave up five earned runs on five hits and four walks in five innings his last time out Saturday versus Milwaukee. J.T. Ginn shifted from the bullpen to make his first MLB start Thursday, and he gave up four runs over five innings prior to being lifted from the contest. Boyle then entered in the bottom of the sixth and was credited with a hold after departing with a 6-5 lead, even though he loaded the bases prior to exiting the game. Over the long haul, the Athletics are hoping that Boyle's poor control and lack of reliable secondary offerings will be lesser concerns in a relief role, but his first exposure to the bullpen wasn't promising.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Fans eight in Saturday's loss
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Boyle (3-6) took the loss Saturday, coughing up five runs on five hits and four walks over five innings as the A's fell 9-5 to the Brewers. He struck out eight.
It was a typical outing for Boyle, as he generated 30 called or swinging strikes among his 104 pitches but issued at least three free passes for the seventh straight start in the majors, a streak that stretches back into April. The 25-year-old righty has a 5.40 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 20:10 K:BB through 15 innings over three outings since getting called back up, but Oakland will let him work through his control issues in the hopes that he can emerge as a reliable rotation option. Boyle is scheduled to make his next start on the road next weekend against the Rangers.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Getting another start
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Boyle is scheduled to start Monday's game against the Rays at Oakland Coliseum.
After getting recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas last Tuesday, Boyle immediately stepped into the rotation as a replacement for Ross Stripling, who was sent to the bullpen. In his first start for Oakland since May 5, Boyle took a no-decision in a 9-4 win over the Mets, striking out six over four innings while allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks. Through eight outings overall in the big leagues this season, Boyle owns a 2-5 record and 7.39 ERA across 31.2 innings.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: No-decision in return to majors
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Boyle came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 9-4 win over the Mets, giving up four runs on seven hits and three walks over four-plus innings. He struck out six.
Making his first MLB appearance since May 5, Boyle had his usual trouble finding the plate consistently, tossing 54 of 85 pitches for strikes while also hitting a batter and uncorking a wild pitch, but he also generated 29 called or swinging strikes. The 25-year-old right-hander figures to remain in the Oakland rotation the rest of the way in 2024, but he has a long way to go to be of interest in most fantasy formats given his 7.39 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 17.1 percent walk rate through his first 31.2 big-league innings. Boyle lines up to make his next start at home early next week against the Rays.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Impresses again in rehab outing
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Boyle (back) started Triple-A Las Vegas' win over El Paso on Tuesday, firing three scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit and issued two walks while recording three strikeouts.
Boyle worked up to 58 pitches -- 35 of which he located for strikes -- in his second consecutive scoreless multi-inning rehab outing. The right-hander appears to be ready for activation based on his solid body of work over that pair of starts, and an injury-riddled Athletics starting rotation would undoubtedly benefit from his return.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Bounces back in latest rehab start
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Boyle (back) started Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to Sugar Land on Wednesday and fired 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and two walks while recording three strikeouts.
To label Boyle's start Wednesday an exponential improvement over his rehab debut last Thursday would be an understatement, considering the young right-hander didn't even record an out in that encounter with Triple-A Tacoma. Boyle was downright cruising in that context Wednesday, firing 25 of his 43 pitches for strikes -- and averaging 100.1 mph with his four-seamer per MLB.com -- during a much-needed confidence-building effort. Manager Mark Kotsay noted after the outing that Boyle felt as if he'd "turned a corner" with his back injury, but it remains to be seen if he'll get one more rehab outing before being activated.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Disastrous first rehab start
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Boyle (back) started for Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday and allowed four earned runs on three hits and two walks without recording an out.
The right-hander located only half of his 26 pitches for strikes before getting the hook. The one silver lining appears to be that Boyle didn't have any residual physical issues, but given the on-field results, he doesn't seem close to being activated from the IL.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Bullpen session on tap
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Boyle (back) is slated to throw a "two-up" bullpen session Sunday, MLB.com reports.
The right-hander will take an important step in his recovery with Sunday's activity, which will see Boyle participate in separate throwing sessions with rest periods in between. If Boyle proves capable of tolerating the activity well, he could potentially be activated when first eligible Tuesday.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Sustains back injury Sunday
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Boyle, who was lifted after one inning in Sunday's loss to the Marlins, was suffering from lower-back pain that got worse the more he threw during the frame, MLB.com reports.
Boyle's performance clearly seemed to be affected by his physical limitations, as he allowed four earned runs on a hit and three walks over his sole inning on the mound. Manager Mark Kotsay confirmed Boyle would undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury, at which point the right-hander's chances of making his next scheduled start Saturday against the Mariners will become clearer. Per Sonja Chen of MLB.com, right-handers Osvaldo Bido and Joey Estes, both of whom have big-league experience and are on the 40-man roster, are candidates to be called up from Triple-A Las Vegas should Boyle miss at least one turn through the rotation, although she adds Oakland has long relievers Mitch Spence and Kyle Muller as options on the big-league roster.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Chased in first inning
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Boyle (2-5) yielded four runs on a hit and three walks over one inning Sunday, striking out one batter and taking a loss against Miami.
Boyle narrowly escaped the first frame after coughing up a three-run shot to Nick Gordon. It was the shortest start of the year for Boyle, and he threw just 16 of 35 pitches for strikes. The command has been a constant problem for him this season; Boyle has registered a 29:23 K:BB with a 7.16 ERA through 27.2 innings. As of now, he's in line for a start in Seattle next weekend.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Collects second win
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Boyle (2-4) yielded a run on one hit and four walks over five innings Monday, striking out four and earning a win over the Pirates.
Boyle was charged with a run on a wild pitch in the first inning but otherwise didn't face much trouble. However, his command still continues to cause issues; he threw just 45 of 91 pitches for strikes, including only six whiffs. Boyle now owns a chaotic 28:20 K:BB with a 6.08 ERA through 26.2 innings (six starts). He's completed over five innings just one time this season. Boyle's next matchup is currently projected to be at home against the Marlins this weekend.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Earns first win
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Boyle (1-1) earned the win Sunday against the Tigers, allowing zero runs on two hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out six.
After his first start of the season resulted in 12 baserunners and seven earned runs over just 2.2 innings, Boyle fared much better Sunday, striking out six and allowing no runs and just five baserunners to earn his first victory of the season. Despite the much-improved numbers, Boyle did struggle with his command, requiring 87 pitches to get through five innings and throwing fewer than half of those (43) for strikes. While the control is something to keep an eye on moving forward, Sunday's results were more in line with his brief stint in Oakland last season, when he earned two wins in three starts, striking out 15 and allowing just 13 baserunners over 16 innings.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Earns rotation spot
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Manager Mark Kotsay named Boyle the Athletics' fifth starter Tuesday, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Boyle was impressive in three big-league starts toward the end of last season, logging a 1.69 ERA and 0.81 WHIP across 16 innings. However, he's been known to walk batters at an alarmingly high rate, and those troubles seemed to haunt him yet again this spring as he allowed 15 free passes over 18.1 frames. If the 24-year-old righty is able to bring down his walk rate, he appears to have the stuff to develop into a solid major-league starter.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Leading pack for fifth spot
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Boyle looks to be in the driver's seat for the fifth spot in the Athletics' rotation, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Boyle has impressed in his first two Cactus League outings, yielding just one earned run with a 5:0 K:BB over 5.1 innings of work. The big right-hander's stuff has never been in question, but he's sported an ugly 18.7 percent walk rate in the minors. However, Boyle walked just five in 16 frames during a late-season audition with the A's, and the improved control has carried over into spring training this year. He has plenty of bat-missing upside if he can keep the walks to an acceptable level.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Could garner No. 5 spot
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Boyle, who impressed in a trio of late-season starts in 2023, could have an edge for the No. 5 role in the Athletics' rotation to open the season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Gallegos reports general manager David Forst has already strongly implied that Paul Blackburn, JP Sears, Alex Wood and Ross Stripling -- the latter two veteran offseason additions -- will unsurprisingly slot into the top four spots in the rotation. Southpaw Ken Waldichuk (elbow) may eventually join that group when healthy, but he's not expected to be ready for the start of the season; therefore, Boyle, who went 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 0.81 WHIP across his first three major-league starts last September, could slot into that No. 5 role coming out of spring training. However, he'll have some reasonably experienced competition, including holdovers Luis Medina, Freddy Tarnok (hip) and Adrian Martinez,
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Tosses three scoreless frames
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Boyle opened Sunday's 10-1 loss to the Padres with three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out four.
Boyle impressed in his MLB debut, allowing just a first-inning single to Juan Soto and two free passes while spotting 35 of his 58 pitches for strikes. The right-hander sported a four-pitch arsenal Sunday and notably maxed out at 99.7 miles per hour with his fastball. The Athletics haven't outlined their plans for Boyle moving forward, but he'll most likely work as an opener or a traditional starter the next time his turn in the rotation comes up this weekend versus the Tigers.
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Athletics' Joe Boyle: Shipped to Oakland
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The Reds traded Boyle to the Athletics on Monday in exchange for Sam Moll, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Boyle has struggled since reaching Double-A in 2022, logging a 4.58 ERA and 1.67 WHIP across 110 innings. He strikes out batters at an above-average rate, but his inability to limit walks and runs suggest he still has a long way to go before reaching the big-leagues.
