After three years of missing the playoffs and dealing away fan favorites like Yoenis Cespedes, Josh Donaldson and Sonny Gray, the Athletics are trying to steer themselves in the opposite direction.

They certainly took a significant step Saturday by acquiring Mets reliever Jeurys Familia to bolster a bullpen that includes All-Star closer Blake Treinen.

"You always want to be in this position where you're potentially adding,'' A's manager Bob Melvin said. "We've had three years where it's been just the opposite. Three weeks ago, maybe this isn't a conversation. But the way the team's played in the last month put us in a position to be able to do something like this.''