The Royals selected Long's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Long earns a look with the big club after putting up a 1.31 ERA and 23:5 K:BB over 20.2 innings at Omaha. The left-hander holds a career 4.92 ERA over 80 appearances (12 starts) at the major-league level.

Kansas City signed Long to a minor-league contract Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Long was outrighted off the 40-man roster in Oakland at the end of the 2023 regular season after struggling to a 5.60 ERA and 32:21 K:BB across 45 innings. The 28-year-old left-hander joins the Royals as organizational bullpen depth for the 2024 campaign.

Long cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

The Athletics needed to do some 40-man roster maneuvering and felt Long's spot was better used elsewhere. Long put up a 5.60 ERA and 32:21 K:BB over 45 innings out of Oakland's bullpen this season.

Long was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Long was knocked around for four runs (three earned) over 1.2 relief innings in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays. He'll be replaced by a fresh bullpen arm.

Long was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Long had been in the big leagues since the Athletics acquired him from the Giants in late April. He's struggled to a 5.27 ERA in 42.2 innings, striking out just 17.3 percent of opposing batters. Francisco Perez was called up to take his place in the bullpen.

Long (0-1) took the loss as an opener against the Red Sox on Friday, allowing three earned runs on three hits and a walk over one-plus inning. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

Long's considerably busy line is the byproduct of two very different frames. The left-hander got through the opening inning unscathed, working around a Justin Turner single. However, Long failed to retire any of the three hitters he faced to open the second inning, leaving the bases loaded for Luis Medina. All three inherited runners eventually came across, saddling Long with his second three-earned-run tally in the last four outings. Despite the occasional hiccup, Long has contributed two saves and two holds along with a serviceable 4.36 ERA across 26 appearances.

Long will serve as the Athletics' opener Friday in Boston, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Right-hander Luis Medina is set to handle the bulk of the innings for the A's, but it will be the southpaw Long first out of the chute. Left-handed batters are hitting only .200/.293/.314 off Long this season.

Long picked up the save Sunday against the Brewers. He allowed one hit over one-third of a scoreless inning.

EDGE Analysis

Long was thrust into a bases-loaded situation with two outs and four runs of cushion but managed to shut down the Brewers' comeback efforts to claim his second save of the season. Though Long gave up a single to Abraham Toro that plated two runs, he managed to retire his next batter to improve to a perfect 2-for-2 in save opportunities in 2023.

Long recorded his first save in Saturday's extra-inning win over the Brewers, firing a perfect 10th inning.

EDGE Analysis

Long breezed through his one frame on 15 pitches, 10 which he threw for strikes. The southpaw and first-year Athletic has mostly been a bright spot for manager Mark Kotsay, and he's now allowed just one run over seven innings covering his last four appearances while also recording a hold in addition to Saturday's save.

Long, whom the Athletics acquired from the Giants on Sunday in exchange for cash considerations, was added to the 26-man active roster Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Though Long has a minor-league option remaining and posted a 9.90 ERA and 1.90 WHIP across 10 innings at Triple-A Sacramento, the Athletics will have him report to the big club right away rather than joining their top affiliate in Las Vegas. Long is expected to fill a multi-inning role out of the bullpen after the Athletics placed one of their other long relievers, Adrian Martinez (elbow), on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move.