With Jacob Wilson on the injured list with a dislocated left shoulder and sublaxation, the Athletics were search of a shortstop. The Pittsburgh Pirates had one in the minors with major league experience, making them perfect partners for a swap.
The Pirates traded defense-first middle infielder Alika Williams to the A’s on Saturday afternoon for 22-year-old right-handed pitcher Kyle Robinson, the team announced Saturday afternoon.
The A’s were seeking middle infield depth after Wilson, a 2025 All-Star, was injured diving for a ground ball in the fifth inning of a 2-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Wilson placed on the 10-day IL on May 12.
Robinson, a 2024 11th-round pick out of Texas Tech, was 1-1 with a 3.62 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 19 strikeouts against 13 walks in six games (five starts) for High-A Lansing this season. The 6-foot-6, 225-pounder split last year between Lansing (5-6, 3.99 ERA) and Double-A Midland (1-6, 5.29 ERA), starting 20 of his 25 appearances.
Williams, 27, is a former first-round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays who was acquired in June 2023 in exchange for reliever Robert Stephenson after Oneil Cruz was lost to a season-ending fractured left ankle. Known for his great glove, Williams started 59 games (44 at shortstop, 15 at second base) over two seasons with the Pirates, batting .202 with a .529 OPS, nine doubles, two triples and 11 RBIs over 83 games from 2023-24.
Williams was designated for assignment and released by the Pirates but signed to a minor league contract this past February and had a strong spring training. He was batting .317/.385/.467 with 10 doubles, a triple, two homers and 18 RBIs in 34 games at Triple-A Indianapolis this season, but the presence of rookie Konnor Griffin and 2024 Gold Glove utility winner Jared Triolo blocked his return to the majors.