The A’s optioned rookie righty Kade Morris back to Triple-A Las Vegas before tonight’s game against the Brewers. They recalled Joey Estes for his first MLB look of the season.
Morris, one of the organization’s better pitching prospects, came up for his MLB debut over the weekend. He started Saturday’s game in Houston and was rocked for nine runs over four innings. It had seemed he’d get the opportunity to take another turn. If a team intends to option a starting pitcher, they’ll typically do it right after the start and carry an extra bullpen arm for the intervening few days.
Last night’s absurd series opener might have changed the plans. The A’s are playing the first of six at Las Vegas Ballpark, which is expected to play very hitter-friendly. That was certainly the case on Monday, as the A’s and Brewers combined for 29 runs over a 12-inning game. They used six relievers behind Jeffrey Springs, with all but Elvis Alvarado and Mason Barnett coming out of the bullpen. Estes has been working out of the Triple-A rotation and last pitched on Wednesday, so he’s available as a length option tonight. J.T. Ginn is on the bump.
It will leave the A’s with more questions about how they’ll arrange their rotation over the weekend. Jack Perkins will start tomorrow’s series finale. They’re off on Thursday, then welcome the Rockies for three at Las Vegas Ballpark. They’ll then head back to Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park — itself a tough environment for pitchers — for series against the Pirates and Angels.
Thursday’s off day means they could drop to a four-man rotation and use Gage Jump, Springs, and Ginn on regular rest for the weekend. That’s probably not ideal as they lead into a stretch of 10 consecutive game days. Estes or Barnett are built up enough that either one could get a spot start if they’re not needed in relief over the next two days.
Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang has yet to make his MLB debut and has an ERA north of 7.00 in Triple-A. Neither Morris nor Jacob Lopez can be recalled this week unless another pitcher suffers an injury, as they otherwise need to spend 15 days on optional assignment. Luis Morales is working out of the Triple-A bullpen, while prospect Braden Nett is still building up after a month-long injured list stint in the minors.
Aaron Civale could be back in the rotation at some point next week. He’s trending toward a nearly minimal injured list stint due to shoulder tendinitis. According to the MLB.com injury tracker, he’ll make a Triple-A rehab start on Thursday. He’ll probably only need one such outing before he’s ready to rejoin the MLB staff. Luis Severino is much further off, as he’ll be out beyond the All-Star Break due to a shoulder strain.
The A’s may get a lineup reinforcement back for the weekend. Shortstop Jacob Wilson played his third rehab game tonight. Wilson has missed a month with a dislocated left shoulder. Darell Hernaiz and Alika Williams have split the recent shortstop work.
Hernaiz was optioned yesterday when Max Muncy returned from his own lengthy absence due to a broken finger. Wilson’s forthcoming activation seems likely to bump Williams back to the minors as well, though the A’s could at least consider optioning Lawrence Butler. He’s been supplanted by Henry Bolte in center field and has only started twice this month.
Option butler? He’ll be the richest guy in the minors, just a bit wealthier than kristian campbell and cooper pratt
Mayb tms should exercise more thought into these extensions.
Calculated risk. You can’t win them all. 60 million over 8 years does not do much damage if it’s bad. And when it’s good like acuna, chourio, the dividends offset the risk.
Butler needs to go. He’s not helping anyone staying on the team. Who knows- it took a while in the minors but Gelof seems to have his mojo back. Maybe Butler does the same.
I totally gave up on gelof and most fans would’ve given up on him years ago. Big difference is he’s still cheap compared to butler. Only issue was him taking up 40 man roster space and not contributing due to injury and poor performance
Bello’s another guy with a $55mil extension who got optioned. Hope these guys are buying their aaa teammates (who make $1000/wk) dinner every nite
Butler needs to go. Hey, Gelof seems to have his mojo back after an extended stay in the minors; maybe lightning strikes twice. If not, Butler’s contract is a write off and the A’s spending…remains near rock bottom.
Some have mentioned he looks more slow and less athletic possibly not fully recovered from meniscus surgery. 25 mill over next 3 yrs isn’t terrible before larger money kicks in. Even when he was lousy last year he had 2 war value and was 20 home runs and 20 steals. But he’s barely playing and barely contributing currently and for most of this season. Send him to AAA to get right or maybe he’s involved in a bad contract swap eventually down the line
Not sure where you are getting your info but Butler is signed thru 2031 with an option for 2032. The A’s are on the hook for $58 Million.