MESA, Ariz. -- Just a couple of weeks away from Opening Day against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park on March 27, the Athletics still have some questions to answer before the end of Spring Training.
With 12 Cactus League games remaining after Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to the D-backs, let’s take a look at the three main roster battles that must be decided by the end of March.
Fifth starter
Luis Severino, JP Sears and Jeffrey Springs are rotation locks. Osvaldo Bido, who bounced back nicely from a couple of rough spring outings on Wednesday by limiting the D-backs to two runs on four hits and no walks with four strikeouts across five innings, remains in line to be the fourth member.
Who rounds out that rotation will likely come down to Joey Estes and Mitch Spence. To this point, Spence is having the better spring in terms of numbers, having allowed just one earned run with two walks and six strikeouts over eight innings. Spence’s success in the bullpen as a multi-inning reliever last season before moving into the bullpen, however, could make him a candidate to once again start the year as a reliever.
"We’re at a point in camp now where we still have a number of guys competing for different roles,” manager Mark Kotsay said on Tuesday. “It’s too early to kind of categorize everyone. I think when we get through this weekend and see where we’re at, there might be a clear picture in terms of guys in roles and the roster.”
Bullpen
All-Star closer Mason Miller and back-end bullpen pieces José Leclerc, Tyler Ferguson and Michel Otañez will pitch in high-leverage spots, as will veteran left-hander T.J. McFarland. Rule 5 Draft pick Noah Murdock has pitched well early in Cactus League action and figures to get a chance to at least begin the season with the A’s. That leaves likely two spots up for grabs.
Whoever does not make the rotation between Estes and Spence is a strong candidate to provide long relief. Others in the mix are No. 14 J.T. Ginn and No. 18 prospect Grant Holman, both of whom debuted in the Majors last season. If the A’s opt to have a second lefty in the bullpen, Hogan Harris -- who in five relief appearances this spring has allowed just one run with 11 strikeouts over eight innings, including a scoreless inning on Wednesday -- is another strong candidate.
"For Hogan, this spring is a continuation of what he did for us last year,” Kotsay said. “He’s continuing to pound the zone. He’s cleaned his mechanics up, throwing strikes and using the breaking ball. … He’s definitely in the mix [for the bullpen] right now.”
Backup catcher
Shea Langeliers, who has appeared in 254 games behind the plate over the past two seasons, remains entrenched as the A’s primary catcher. Who begins the season as his backup remains up in the air.
There does appear to be some clarity on this avenue after the recent round of roster cuts included Kyle McCann, who backed up Langeliers for the entirety of the 2024 season. Kotsay said he does not rule out the possibility of McCann still making the Opening Day roster, even as he transfers over to Minor League camp, but aside from Langeliers, the only other catcher currently on the A’s 40-man roster is Jhonny Pereda. Willie MacIver is also still in big league camp as a non-roster invitee.
Pereda, 28, grinded through the Minors for 11 years before finally getting his first call to the Majors last season with the Marlins. He’s 6-for-21 (.286) with a home run, five walks and no strikeouts through 10 spring games. His skills behind the plate, however, are why the A’s were excited to claim him off waivers from the Marlins in January.
"I can see him getting a little more comfortable with the ability to know these [pitchers] and feel confident calling pitches,” Kotsay said of Pereda. “Overall, I feel confident about the way he receives the ball, and he had a couple of good at-bats in [Las] Vegas with an oppo homer. We’re going to get a good look at him now.”
MacIver spent the first six seasons of his professional career in the Rockies farm system and is coming off an impressive offensive campaign with Triple-A Albuquerque in which he slashed .297/.381/.530 with 15 homers, 19 doubles and 56 RBIs in 89 games.
"He’s another guy,” Kotsay said. “I heard nothing but great things from [Rockies manager] Bud Black and [Rockies bench coach] Mike Redmond, who are close friends of mine, and talked about his opportunity being limited due to some roster stuff. We’ll get a look at him as well.”