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SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - The Athletics selected right-handed pitcher Ryan Watson from San Francisco in the Major League portion of the Rule 5 Draft, the club announced Dec. 10. In addition, the Athletics’ selected right-handed pitchers Abel Mercedes, Darlin Pinales and Jorge Marcheco in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft.

Watson, 28, was signed to a minor league contract by Baltimore in 2020 and was traded to the Giants on Aug. 9, 2024, for cash considerations. He is 24-17 with a 4.14 earned run average (ERA) in 157 games, including 34 starts, across five minor league seasons.

Mercedes, 23, posted a 2-0 record with a 4.35 ERA across 30 relief appearances for Single-A Fayetteville during the 2025 season to go along with 66 strikeouts and 48 walks in 41.1 innings pitched. Overall, Mercedes is 6-12 with a 5.60 ERA across five minor league seasons.

Pinales, 23, was 1-3 with a 5.90 ERA across 35 relief outings for Single-A Visalia during the 2025 season with 56 strikeouts, 32 walks and a .217 opponents batting average. Overall, he is 10-11 with a 5.64 ERA, adding 229 strikeouts and 186.2 innings pitched over five minor league seasons. 

Marcheco, 23, went a combined 5-7 with a 4.36 ERA between High-A Tri City and Double-A Rocket City during the 2025 season. He totaled 84 strikeouts, 23 walks and a 1.13 walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP) across 27 games (12 starts). Overall, he is 23-23 with a 3.99 ERA spanning five minor league seasons.

Additionally, catcher Daniel Susac was selected from the A’s organization by Minnesota in the first round of the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft. In the minor league portion, catcher Abrahan Gutierrez was selected by New York-AL (second round).

Susac was drafted by the A’s in the first round (19th overall) in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft. He hit .275 with 19 doubles, 18 home runs and 68 runs batted in (RBI) for Triple-A Las Vegas during the 2025 season. Across four minor league seasons, the 24-year-old right-handed hitter has recorded 65 doubles, 39 home runs and 195 RBI. 

Gutierrez, 26, was signed by the A’s to a minor league contract on Dec. 4, 2025, after he was released by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization on Aug. 5, 2025. Across parts of eight minor league seasons, he batted .261 with a .346 on-base percentage, including batting .250 with a .333 OBP in 28 games with Triple-A Indianapolis this season.