Injuries & Moves: Soderstrom optioned among roster cuts
LATEST NEWS
March 17: C Tyler Soderstrom optioned to Triple-A; infielders Armando Alvarez and Max Muncy, outfielders Daz Cameron and Max Schuemann reassigned to Minor League camp
Soderstrom struggled at the plate this spring, hitting .121 (4-for-33) over 15 Cactus League games. The 22-year-old backstop debuted in the big leagues last season as Oakland’s No. 1 prospect and hit .160 with a .472 OPS in 45 games. With Shea Langeliers entrenched as the A’s everyday catcher, the club prefers to get Soderstrom regular at-bats in the Minors to begin the season.
Muncy, Oakland’s No. 8 prospect, impressed the A’s this spring and is a candidate to join the big league club at some point in 2024.
Alvarez, a non-roster invitee, put himself on the big league radar after hitting .393 (11-for-28) with a homer and a double in 16 spring games.
The A's now have 35 players remaining in big league camp.
March 16: 3B J.D. Davis signed to a one-year deal; RHP Angel Felipe designated for assignment
Felipe, who was slated to miss the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on March 15, was designated for assignment on Saturday to clear a spot on Oakland’s 40-man roster for Davis, whom the A’s signed to a one-year deal. Felipe made 14 relief appearances for the A’s in 2023 and posted a 4.20 ERA in 15 innings.
March 15: LHP Scott Alexander (left rib stress reaction) likely to miss start of season
A’s manager Mark Kotsay said Alexander, who is currently shut down from baseball activity due to a stress reaction in his left rib, is unlikely to throw off a mound before the end of Spring Training, which could land him on the injured list to begin the regular season. The left-hander, who signed a one-year deal with Oakland last month and was expected to be the club’s primary lefty reliever in the bullpen, has made three relief appearances for the A’s this spring, allowing eight runs on nine hits in 2 1/3 innings.
Should Alexander not be available to start the season, left-hander Sean Newcomb is the likely candidate to replace him on the Opening Day roster.
INJURY UPDATES
LHP Scott Alexander (stress reaction in left rib)
Expected return: TBD
The A's diagnosed Alexander with a stress reaction in his left rib, and the left-hander will be out of action for an unknown amount of time. In three appearances this spring, Alexander, who was a contender for the Opening Day roster, has allowed eight runs across 2 1/3 innings. (Last updated: March 14)
INF Aledmys Díaz (left groin strain)
Expected return: Potentially Opening Day
Díaz continues to ramp up his baseball activity and could possibly take Minor League at-bats during the week of March 11. He was scratched from the starting lineup on Feb. 28 due to a left groin strain he sustained before the game. While there are still some hurdles to clear before returning to game action, A’s manager Mark Kotsay indicated there is a possibility Díaz could be ready for Opening Day on March 28. (Last updated: March 10)
RHP Luis Medina (Grade 2 MCL sprain)
Expected return: TBD
Medina will miss the start of the season due to a MCL sprain he sustained during his Cactus League outing on March 4. The 24-year-old right-hander remains sidelined from all baseball activity with no timeline for a return at this point. (Last updated: March 6)
RHP Freddy Tarnok (right hip inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Tarnok reported to Spring Training considered “slightly” behind other pitchers in his throwing program as he recovered from right hip surgery undergone last August. He was expected to begin pitching in spring games at some point in March, but a recent flareup of his right hip led the A’s to shut him down from all baseball activity on March 6 to allow for the swelling to go down. There is no timeline for when Tarnok will start back up his throwing program, though the hip issue will likely land him on the injured list to begin the season. (Last updated: March 6)
60-day injured list
LHP Ken Waldichuk (left elbow sprain)
Expected return: TBD
Waldichuk, whom the A’s placed on the 60-day IL on Feb. 14, is playing catch out to 110 feet, manager Mark Kotsay said. The team hopes he'll resume throwing off a mound by the end of Spring Training. (Last updated: March 10)