.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png)
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png)
17 HOURS AGO • MLB.COM
OAKLAND ATHLETICS
36-24 · 2020 1ST IN AL WEST
Next Game vs Reds · Today 3:05PM
OAK -131
Notes: Jefferies sharp; Reed wows with arm MESA, Ariz. -- Daulton Jefferies was admittedly overwhelmed by the nerves he took to the mound at Globe Life Field last September for the A’...
Oakland A’s will still have Paul Blackburn in their system It appeared as though Paul Blackburn's time with the Oakland A's was at an end. Due to their spate of signings, room needed to be found on t...
21 HOURS AGO • WHITECLEATBEAT.COM
Oakland A’s: Expect Big Things From Matt Olson in 2021 One thing to consider is that 2020 was a bizarre year in general. The changes and sacrifices that players made to make the 2020 season happe...
21 HOURS AGO • WHITECLEATBEAT.COM
What we learned at A’s camp: Why Mark Canha didn’t watch any film of his swing during the offseason “You have to be able to watch video, good feel, understand how your body feels and not just what it’s like on video.”
1 DAY AGO • MERCURYNEWS.COM
Remains with organization Blackburn cleared waivers Saturday and will remain in camp as a non-roster invitee, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Impact Blackburn and his 5.69 career ERA were unsurprisingly not a hot commodity on waivers. He'll remain in an organizational depth role for Oakland going forward.
1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE
A's 'excited' to play in front of fans again at Hohokam Stadium After a season of playing in empty stadiums, the Oakland Athletics welcome a limited...
1 DAY AGO • SFCHRONICLE.COM
Frankie Montas hoping to be ready for Opening Day Just a week ago, Frankie Montas had learned of another setback in his quest to become the pitcher that the Oakland A's had hoped for. Montas...
1 DAY AGO • WHITECLEATBEAT.COM
Ramp-up process begins Montas, who was cleared to join spring training Thursday after a stay on the COVID-19 injured list, has already begun his ramp-up process, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Impact The right-hander has already begun a throwing program, and manager Bob Melvin has confirmed Montas will be on the same schedule as the rest of the staff, but just a bit behind in the actual implementation. Montas is expected to progress from throwing bullpens to facing hitters in simulated situations in coming days, and he'll naturally have a chance to see action in multiple Cactus League games.
1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE
Visa issues resolved Barrera has resolved his visa issues and is in Arizona, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Impact Barrera missed the start of spring training, but he'll now undergo intake testing prior to joining the team in camp. He could compete for a backup role in the outfield this spring after slashing .324/.365/.490 at Double-A Midland in 2018 and 2019.
1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE
Oakland A’s ready to unleash A.J. Puk this season It has been four long years since the last time A.J. Puk felt healthy. After his solid showing in 2017, the expectation was that the Oakland...
2 DAYS AGO • WHITECLEATBEAT.COM
Why ex-Giants Sergio Romo and Yusmeiro Petit fit in so well with the A's Sergio Romo and Yusmeiro Petit were part of championship-winning bullpens with the Giants. Reunited, they hope to do the same with the A's.
2 DAYS AGO • THEATHLETIC.COM
'Free and easy' Puk raring to go for '21 MESA, Ariz. -- Every time that A.J. Puk picked up a baseball over the past two years, doubt crept into his mind. Overcoming Tommy John surge...
2 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM
At Giants and A's spring training, 'weird' is just the new normal For the A’s and the Giants, spring training 2021 is at once strange, because of all the...
3 DAYS AGO • SFCHRONICLE.COM
Not yet throwing Romo has yet to throw a bullpen session in spring training, but manager Bob Melvin confirmed Thursday it's by design and not indicative of any injury, Matt Kawahara of the San Fran...
Impact Melvin adds the veteran reliever is one of several arms being built up slowly. The 37-year-old would seemingly have plenty of wiggle room in terms of preparation time, considering his body of work over an extended period. Romo is expected to fill a key later-inning relief role for a revamped Athletics bullpen that lost a veteran right-hander with a very similar profile in Joakim Soria this offseason, among other arms.
3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Could face hitters in coming days Puk could face hitters in live batting practice "pretty soon" according to manager Bob Melvin, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Impact The big lefty has already looked good in his early bullpen sessions as he rounds back into shape following another injury-marred season in 2020. Melvin's proclamation supports the notion Puk hasn't suffered any setbacks with his activity level thus far, and it therefore appears likely the team will test him by elevating him to live hitters soon.
3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Looks good after diligent offseason Manaea is already looking more confident and efficient with his pre-delivery movement during early bullpen sessions after some targeted offseason training, Martin Gallegos of MLB.c...
Impact The veteran southpaw went into the offseason with some momentum after going 4-1 with a 2.77 ERA over his final seven regular-season starts, and he got right to improving certain physical and mental aspects of his game. Manaea worked with a trainer on improving mobility and durability that strengthened his internal abductors, leading to what appears to be improved mechanics. The 29-year-old also put in time with mental performance coach and former college teammate Tyler Pazik to sharpen his confidence and killer instinct on the mound, a resource he plans to continue availing himself of during the regular season.
3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Oakland A’s: The forgotten Ben Sheets Era There was a time when Ben Sheets was one of the better pitchers in the game. He was an impressive young pitcher for the Brewers whose career...
3 DAYS AGO • WHITECLEATBEAT.COM
How Greg Maddux played into Sean Manaea’s offseason rediscovery “The biggest thing is believing I’m nasty. I feel like I’m too nice.”
3 DAYS AGO • MERCURYNEWS.COM
Manaea brings 'disgusting stuff' to A's MESA, Ariz. -- A’s left-hander Sean Manaea usually keys in on one particular pitch during Spring Training. Last year, it was mastering his s...
3 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM
Oakland A’s: What is Going On at Second Base? The 2021 Oakland A's infield has a lot of question marks. Can newcomer Elvis Andrus become the latest veteran to find a satisfying second ac...
3 DAYS AGO • WHITECLEATBEAT.COM
Dustin Fowler may finally get his chance with Pittsburgh Pirates Dustin Fowler's time with the Oakland A's had come to an end before it really had a chance to begin. He had been a part of the A's return fo...
4 DAYS AGO • WHITECLEATBEAT.COM
Could lead off Laureano is one of the top candidates to lead off for the Athletics this season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Impact Marcus Semien and Tommy La Stella led off in 56 of Oakland's 60 games last season, but both left the team over the offseason. Laureano primarily hit second but did lead off on three occasions. He has the speed of a traditional leadoff man, but teams today are often more concerned with on-base ability in that spot. Laureano's track record there is more mixed, as his career .343 on-base percentage is solid but far from elite. He's walked at a below-average 7.6 percent clip over the course of his career but did post a career-best 10.8 percent walk rate last season. Mark Canha, who doesn't have the same speed but does get on base at an elite rate, appears to be the other top candidate.
4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Candidate to lead off Canha is a leading candidate to bat first for the Athletics this season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Impact Marcus Semien and Tommy La Stella led off in all but four games for the Athletics last season, but neither of them is on the team this year. Canha primarily bat fifth and never hit higher than third, though he does seem like a natural fit for the role. He doesn't have the speed of a traditional leadoff man but has the on-base ability that managers look for in the role. He owns a 14.1 percent walk rate over the last two seasons, helping him to an elite .393 on-base percentage, a number that ranks eighth among qualified hitters over that stretch. If he does indeed lead off, he'll trade a few RBI for a few runs, though more importantly he'll see a bump in total plate appearances, which would slightly boost his fantasy value.
4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
Cleared to join teammates Montas was cleared to join his teammates Thursday following a brief stay on the COVID-19 injured list, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Impact Montas tested positive for the virus prior to camp and missed the first few workouts. With Opening Day still over a month away, he should still have enough time to get up to full speed by the start of the season.
4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE
