The injury to Athletics outfielder Jake Smolinski gives non-roster invitee Alejandro De Aza a considerably stronger chance of making the roster, writes Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. While both De Aza and fellow NRI Jaff Dacker have impressed the A’s in camp, De Aza appears to have an edge due to the fact that he has an opt-out in his contract at month’s end if he has not made the roster. Decker, meanwhile, does not have that luxury. Slusser notes that it’s possible that Mark Canha will be the only outfield reserve to break camp with the team, should the A’s wish to carry eight relievers (thereby allowing them to retain out-of-options righty Raul Alcantara), but that’d also leave them without much of a backup option in center field.
- The Mariners, too, could open the year with an eight-man bullpen, according to manager Scott Servais (as Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune writes). Edwin Diaz is locked in as the team’s closer, and he’ll be joined by righties Nick Vincent and Evan Scribner as well as southpaw Marc Rzepczynski. Servais listed Dan Altavilla and Casey Fien as candidates as well. The Seattle ’pen picture is a bit muddied by the fact that Steve Cishek will open the season on the disabled list and that Shae Simmons is being slowed by forearm soreness. Other candidates for the bullpen include Tony Zych, James Pazos, Chris Heston and Ariel Miranda (as can be seen on the team’s depth chart at RosterResource.com).
- Ailing Rangers right-hander Andrew Cashner had a good week of throwing, he told reporters earlier today (Twitter link via MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan). He’s set to meet with doctors on Friday of this week and added that he “should take off from there.” It’s already been reported that Cashner won’t be ready to begin the 2017 season, but an exact timetable for his regular-season Rangers debut is not yet known.
- The Astros have made an unorthodox coaching appointment, reports Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle. Sig Mejdal, who was hired by the Astros in 2012 and given the title of “director of decision sciences” and more recently named a special assistant to GM Jeff Luhnow, will continue to fulfill those duties while also serving as a coach with the team’s short-season Class-A affiliate in 2017. Mejdal will be a “development coach” and be on the road with the team full-time when their season begins in June. He’ll help both the players and his fellow coaches to utilize the increasing amount of technology that is becoming available to them (in addition to more traditional coaching duties). Luhnow tells Kaplan that Mejdal, a former NASA researcher, will still be involved in all front office processes even when he relocates to upstate New York for the new position this summer.
Working from the bottom up. I like it
8 relievers for an AL team. Leaves three bench spots. And MLB claims to be worried about the pace of play. Hmmm….
They won’t do that, Mark Canha is horrible at every aspect of the game other than power, De Aza will be on the bench, Canha at AAA where he belongs.
That’s really too bad that that last story is subscription only. I very much wanted to read that.
Maybe the Astros will also hire a submariner as a coach. They might need one this season. Or a hypnotherapist.
Geez. Every post I see you on, you’re trashing the Astros.
So either you take their rivalry with Texas too seriously or you’re scared Houston might take the Division this year
Let him live, I never understood the “I see you in the threads…” these are all anonymous threads I almost never look at the user unless its a convo. Ignoring is always the best option.
Might be anonymous, but you if you keep same user name posting negative stuff about same rival
So? Rivals exist, get over it. Not everyone loves your team like you do, its a fact of life.
why don’t you get over people mentioning it or just ignore it like you’re telling other to do?
I could care less about who you or him like. You’re dummy that said no one could remember who posted what. Just like you’re ALWAYS talking about players from the 70’s that no one remembers
Just_Another_Fan lol youre almost as bad as @luhnowsucks. Always stirring up trouble on here without reason
Never forget BigPapi4ever
I usually do! Just stopping by to let you know I think it’s wack.
Nope. If people hate what I’m saying then that’s on them. Like 95% of my posts are pretty standard, but I get worse things said to me then things I actually say about players and owners, that’s a sign of weakness from a couple of posters here.
You just admitted you also show some sign of weakness bc you do the same thing…
Who here didn’t think cash would get hurt again?
Atleast he will be closer to home, and his mom
Just Another Fan gets rave reviews when it comes to stirring up trouble.
Bringing up facts and stats is stirring up trouble? Only in Trump’s America!
Can’t the guy do us all a favor & change his name to “Jeff Decker”?
The fact that Smolinski was expected to win a spot over De Aza doesn’t look good for the A’s. 2 guys who shouldn’t be in the majors battling it out for serious playing time!
Agreed, Pagan would be a great fit in the OF, and this lineup:
Rajai-Joyce-Healy-Khrush-Vogt-Semien-Plouffe-Pagan-Lowrie
…if Cotton, Manaea & Graveman can throw 90 starts of 3.50ERA ball, with that pen, the A’s might be a lot better than expected and borderline contenders. NO idea why Pagan hasn’t been signed yet. Way better defender in LF and backup in CF than anyone on the roster.
Whomever downvoted all my posts in this thread: I love you. God loves you. Hate doesn’t belong in your heart. Have a blessed day.
LOL! How do you down-vote comments? I only use the app on my iPhone/iPad
The worst trolls are braves fans. They can take any thread and turn into a discussion about there team. So annoying. (Just watch)
Just Another Fan SUCKS!!!!
“You are FIRED!!”