Puk will fill a late-inning role in the Marlins bullpen, Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

The southpaw had been working on a splitter and cutter this offseason to supplement his 96 mph fastball and plus slider in anticipation of a move to the Oakland rotation, but the trade to Miami puts Puk back in the kind of high-leverage bullpen role he excelled in last season. "[The trade] creates a much deeper bullpen, with some guys with swing-and-miss stuff at the back that's going to give our manager some nice options," pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. said Wednesday. "We're probably going to mix and match back there. They'll step up and define their roles as we go, but [we have] some guys that have experience back there and it's a much better feeling going into the spring with those guys that we have back there. Lots of options." Puk recorded 20 holds, four saves and four wins in 62 relief appearances for the A's in 2022 with a 3.12 ERA and 27.0 percent strikeout rate over 66.1 innings.

Puk was traded from the Athletics to the Marlins in exchange for JJ Bleday on Saturday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Puk was expected to compete for a rotation spot with the Athletics this spring, but now will head to the Marlins, and will likely be a member of the Miami bullpen. The left-hander is not long removed from being considered among the top left-handed pitching prospects in baseball, but he has battled injuries and worked exclusively in relief since he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017. He was effective in that role in 2022 with a 3.12 ERA and 76:23 K:BB over 66.1 innings for the A's. Puk could battle for a high-leverage role for the Marlins in 2023.

Athletics general manager David Forst said last month that Puk will get another chance to start in 2023, per Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle.

EDGE Analysis

Puk joins the long list of possible candidates for the final few spots in Oakland's season-opening rotation. He essentially shifted into full-time relief after undergoing Tommy John surgery back in 2017, but the 27-year-old former top prospect has stated a desire to take on a larger workload moving forward. "You are talking about a guy who was a starter for a long time in college and the minor leagues, so it's not like he's transitioning and has never done it," said Forst. "I think performance aside, we'll keep track of his health and how he feels getting back into that role."

Puk (4-3) got the win in an extra-inning victory over the Angels on Tuesday, firing a scoreless 10th inning during which he issued a walk.

EDGE Analysis

Puk got his three outs on a quick eight pitches, intentionally walking Mike Trout with two outs and phantom runner David Fletcher on third base before getting Shohei Ohtani on an inning-ending flyout. The crisp work was then rewarded in the home half of the 10th inning when Shea Langeliers drew a game-winning bases-loaded walk, affording Puk his first victory since Aug. 21. If this was Puk's final appearance of the season, it marks a fitting finish to a strong rebound campaign, one that saw the big southpaw mostly thrive as a reliever while recording 20 holds and four saves along with a 3.12 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 62 appearances.

Puk (3-3) took the loss against the Angels on Tuesday, allowing an earned run on one hit and a hit batsman over one inning. He struck out one.

EDGE Analysis

Puk's outing got started off in positive fashion when he struck out Mike Ford with Taylor Ward on second base to finish out the seventh inning, but he worked himself into trouble in the eighth and failed to preserve a 3-3 tie in the process. The left-hander generated a pair of scoreless efforts to open September but has had a tough time since, pitching to an 0-2 record, 9.39 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 3.5 HR/9 across the 7.2 innings covering his subsequent seven appearances.

Puk (3-2) was charged with the loss against the White Sox on Friday, allowing five earned runs on four hits, a walk and a hit batsman over two-thirds of an inning.

EDGE Analysis

The left-hander was also charged with his fifth blown save of the season in what was a disastrous outing reminiscent of some of his troubles in past seasons. Tasked with closing out the White Sox while working with a 3-0 lead entering the ninth, Puk's frame started off encouragingly enough when he induced a Jose Abreu groundout, but an Eloy Jimenez solo home run, Andrew Vaughn RBI single and a run-scoring single and double by Romy Gonzalez and Elvis Andrus, respectively, accounted for the game-tying and go-ahead runs for Chicago. Prior to Friday's collapse, Puk had been enjoying a stellar second half of the season that had seen him forge a 1-0 record, four saves, six holds, a 2.60 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP across 17.1 innings over 18 appearances.

Puk struck out two in a perfect inning to earn the save in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Puk gave up two unearned runs in one inning versus the Yankees on Saturday, but he bounced back with a sharp effort Sunday. This was his fourth save of the season, all of which have come since July 22. He's had his ups and downs in August, but the southpaw has a clearer path to saves after Dany Jimenez (shoulder) was shut down for the season on Saturday. Zach Jackson will also be part of the closing committee, though save chances with the 48-81 Athletics could be tough to come by. Puk has a 2.53 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 60:16 K:BB while adding 17 holds, three blown saves and a 3-1 record through 53.1 innings this year.

Puk pitched one inning during Saturday's 3-2 win against the Yankees, allowing two unearned runs on two walks and a hit-by-pitch with one strikeout.

EDGE Analysis

Puk was tabbed to pitch the top of the 10th of a scoreless tie and loaded the bases with one out following a fielder's choice, walk and HBP. A subsequent wild pitch let two runs in and put the 27-year-old lefty in line for the loss, though Oakland was able to rally in the bottom of the 10th and walk it off in the 11th. Puk has now surrendered two runs in two of his last three outings and possesses an even 5.00 ERA across seven August innings after taking on a larger role this month.

Puk (3-1) earned the win in Wednesday's extra-inning victory over the Marlins, firing a scoreless 10th inning in which he issued a walk and recorded two strikeouts.

EDGE Analysis

Puk preserved a 2-2 tie in the top half of the 10th with a solid 17-pitch inning, and he was rewarded for his efforts in the home half of the frame when Skye Bolt plated the winning run with a sacrifice fly. The big left-hander had last recorded a decision, also a win, back in the final game before the All-Star break July 17, but he'd generated three saves and six holds over that span. Puk's scoreless effort Wednesday also represented a solid rebound after he was tagged for two runs over two-thirds of an inning by the Mariners in his prior appearance Sunday.

Puk recorded the final out of Thursday's win against the Angels to earn the save.

EDGE Analysis

Puk relieved Zach Jackson -- who allowed the tying run to reach base -- to earn his third save of the season. Puk has been used primarily as a setup man even after the departure of Lou Trivino and has been very effective in the role, turning in 12 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run. For the season, Puk owns a 2.01 ERA and a 45:11 K:BB across 44.2 frames.