Jason Castro has a strained oblique, Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters (including Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle). The injury has kept the veteran backstop out of Grapefruit League action since last Tuesday, but Castro did return to practice today, per the Houston skipper. There’s no indication at this point that the issue threatens his availability for Opening Day. Castro reunited with his original organization on a one-year deal in January. Martín Maldonado and Garrett Stubbs are the other catchers on the Astros’ 40-man roster.
More from the American League West:
- Athletics right-hander Mike Fiers felt some back discomfort in his most recent bullpen session, manager Bob Melvin said (via Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle). It isn’t clear whether this will affect Fiers’ readiness for Opening Day. Oakland brought back the veteran starter on a one-year deal over the winter. Melvin also said the A’s expect Frankie Montas to be ready for the start of the regular season after a bout with COVID-19 set him back early in camp, Kawahara writes.
- The Athletics have not been in attendance for any of Yoenis Céspedes’ recent showcases, per Shayna Rubin of the San Jose Mercury News. “We’re not in position, unfortunately (to sign him),” Melvin said, via Rubin. Céspedes spent the first two-plus seasons of his career in Oakland, finishing runner-up in 2012 AL Rookie of the Year voting. The 35-year-old slugger is looking to return to the big leagues in 2021 after opting out of last season after eight games due to COVID-19 concerns.
- Non-roster invitee Matt Bush has a good chance to earn a spot in the Rangers’ season-opening bullpen, writes Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. That’s especially the case now that Jonathan Hernández will open the year on the injured list. After a strong two-year start to his MLB career from 2016-17, Bush had a rough 2018 season. He struggled for much of the year, then suffered a UCL tear that September. After rehab failed to correct the issue, Bush underwent Tommy John surgery in July 2019. The timing of that procedure kept him out through the end of 2020.
Would Cespedes take a “prove it” deal to show a team what he can still do on and off the field?
He’s going to accept a minor league deal if he wants to play. He fits in and has for quite some time as a DH only. These smart gms have figured out years ago there’s 20 of those guys at least looking for jobs every February. The game is already too specialized now, rather than the DH in both leagues they should get rid of it in both leagues.
That’s funny you should say that Joe, because I just was thinking the same thing about your momma.
Cheap shot
Really Pete! Did I pick his screen name for him? You make your choices – right or wrong, good or bad – and you live with them. Grow up.
“Grow up”. Lol. This coming from the guy making a your mom joke, regardless of dude’s screen name.
All of you, knock it off or you’re grounded!
So A’s aren’t in the position to offer him a contract, even a minor league one, well that’s a polite way to say you don’t want him
Matt Bush is still playing? Forgot this guy existed.
Him and Josh Hamilton have been working out & taking BP.
Maybe he and Rich Hill can start the TOR for the jailhouse team?
“There’s no indication Athletic this point that the issue threatens his availability for Opening Day”
Huh?
Ha, I wrote that note last and based on the rest of the article, my laptop autofilled “Athletic” from “at.” Thanks for letting me know!
Thank you Anthony.
tbh at this point who really wants cespedes other than the kbo and even then that’s pushing it
I wouldn’t mind watching him in Baltimore if I’m being honest. The DH hole is wide open. I’d take a no risk gamble on him. I’ve watched Chris Davis flail at the plate the last 4 years. Couldn’t be any worse.
Yeah, I’m against PEDs, but for Chris Davis I’d make an exception. It’s so painful for the sport of baseball to see him try to play without them……… it’s like a mercy call, crying uncle.
For him PEDs, means Performance Enabling Drugs.
Is Billy Beane still running the Athletics? I thought there was a story about him pursuing a non-baseball sports project under Jim Hendry, but don’t remember an official announcement.
My brain is fried at 2 am: Meant John Henry, the Red Sox owner. Not Hendry, the former Cubs GM
Yep, Billy is still the man in Oakland,
Nope. It’s David Forst at GM. Beane is Head of Baseball Ops.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, inflation. But Cespedes has made over THREE times as much money in his career as Tony Gwynn did. I just think people should know that.
Yeh, think about that for a minute…an all around team guy, great ballplayer, and HOF’er like Gwynn as compared to Cespedes…
Tony Gwynn made more than Babe Ruth. Thought you should know that!
Bush number 1 pick overall in 2004.
Verlander number 2
Hall of Shame
Hall of Fame
Draft choices are a crapshoot.
Bush also had substance abuse issues…. probably didn’t help him
I’d love to see Yoenis as a stop gap to Kelenic in LF.
Probably won’t happen, there’s a few guys they want to take a look at out there while they still can…
But a guy can dream.
He hasn’t had any kind of “season” since 2016 and that was when he was 31ish if you now even believe he is really only 35……remember how he just walked away from the Mets last year….he should know what its like to have to really work for a living.
Cespedes is looking to steal money. He will give no effort after signing. He is fat, lazy, and hornery.
There’s no H in ornery.
If the A’s really wanted Cespedes they’d find the cash. At this point he is a defensive liability that may not have any offense left in the tank. He is not an upgrade over Canha or Moreland at LF/DH
Why did Matt Bush give up on baseball after 2011… I know he had gone from failed SS to RP but he struck out 70 batters in 50 or so innings in AA that year. And despite an ERA that wasn’t great… it was only his second year as a FT P… then when he finally did come back 5 years later… he pretty much immediately made it to the majors. Just seems weird he didn’t stick it out longer back when he was 25
Wasn’t he in prison for years?
blast from the past wow