Major League Baseball

MLB Quick Hits: A's Crisp to miss 6-8 weeks

Published Apr. 2, 2015 6:50 a.m. ET

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John Halpin

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that A's OF Coco Crisp is expected to have surgery to remove a bone spur and chips in his right elbow, and will miss 6-8 weeks as a result. With Josh Reddick (oblique) also on the shelf, speedy Billy Burns appears likely to make the Opening Day roster and receive regular playing time.

Burns is batting .397 this spring, and is tied for the MLB lead with 29 hits. More importantly, he stole 57 bases between the minors and majors last season, and swiped 74 in the minors in 2013 - he's Billy Hamilton-level fast with 80-grade speed. Burns doesn't project to be much of a hitter and will probably head back to the bench (at least part-time) or the minors when the A's outfield gets healthy. But if you need early-season speed, he figures to rack up steals at an elite rate even if he struggles to reach base. If he maintains some of his spring batting improvements and manages to stay in the lineup, the stolen-base upside is considerable. If you've drafted already and could use some speed, pick up Burns, regardless of the format.

In other news ...

White Sox ace Chris Sale (foot) whiffed 13 batters in a minor-league game on Wednesday. He's on target for an April 12 debut.

Justin Verlander (triceps) might make his first-ever DL trip to start the season, but the Tigers continue to say his injury isn't serious.

Archie Bradley might start the season in the Diamondbacks' bullpen, and join the rotation later. Old school.

If Garrett Richards' (knee) recovery continues to go well, Mike Scioscia says he could head out for a rehab assignment on April 14. If Richards is healthy, couldn't he just start for the Angels then?

The Astros sent 1B Jonathan Singleton to the minors. That (usually) moves Chris Carter to first base, Evan Gattis to DH and Colby Rasmus to left field, allowing Jake Marisnick to start in center. Marisnick is more glove than bat, but he hit 13 homers and stole 35 bases between the minors and majors last season. He's a nice, late-game target for AL-only owners who haven't drafted yet or need a free agent.

Yet another opinion confirmed that Anthony Rendon's sprained MCL won't need surgery. What it will need is rest, and the Nationals don't know how much. Rendon will start the season on the DL, along with teammate Jayson Werth (shoulder). The best guess now for Rendon is a few weeks, with Werth's return timetable much shorter.

Season-ending Tommy John surgery is on today's schedule for Red Sox C Christian Vazquez. There's gonna be a lot of really bad hitting behind the plate for the Sox until Blake Swihart gets promoted.

The Mets aren't sure if 2B Daniel Murphy (hamstring) will be ready for Opening Day. In other Mets' news, Dillon Gee has been named as the fifth starter (no surprise), and RP Bobby Parnell hit 94 on the radar gun in a minor-league game on Wednesday. Parnell (Tommy John surgery) could be activated as soon as late April, and it seems like the team wants him to grab the closer role when ready.

The Rockies sent RP Rex Brothers to the minors, further cementing the status of Adam Ottavino as closer heir apparent to 97-year-old LaTroy Hawkins.

Rookie lefty Daniel Norris will start the third game of the season for the Blue Jays.

The Rangers plan to keep Delino DeShields as a backup outfielder. DeShields  (.706 OPS in 2014) isn't perfect, but he stole 54 bases last season, and since the Rangers need to keep him on the roster all season or expose him to waivers as he was a Rule 5 pick from the Astros, he'll probably hang around unless he flops. Interesting AL-only outfielder here. Today's post is full of fast American League outfielders, isn't it?

On a related note, you know what can make you feel old? Saying, "Yeah, I remember when that guy's dad was on my fantasy team." Delino Sr. had good speed, too. 

See you back here tomorrow morning.

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