DETROIT -- The A's are set to part ways with veteran reliever Liam Hendriks, who was designated for assignment ahead of Monday's series opener in Detroit in a flurry of moves.
When a player's contract is designated for assignment -- often abbreviated "DFA" -- that player is immediately removed from his club's 40-man roster, and 25-man roster if he was on that as well. Within seven days of the transaction (it was previously 10 days), the player must either be traded, released or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.
Hendriks' departure from the 40-man roster, which cleared space for Monday starter Edwin Jackson, coincides with the return of left-hander Ryan Buchter from the disabled list. In addition, outfielder Nick Martini was optioned to Triple-A Nashville.
The A's have 10 days to trade or release Hendriks, who joined the organization via trade in November 2015.
"You've got to make a decision, and sometimes there's difficult ones," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "That was the move that we made. We need a little bit more length down there with some of the guys that we have. Liam will get picked up somewhere."
Hendriks, who pitched to a combined 3.99 ERA in his first two seasons in Oakland, had a 7.36 ERA in 13 appearances this season. The 29-year-old spent nearly two months on the DL, undergoing surgery on his right hip to remove a cyst, before going through the motions of a rehab assignment that spanned just four days.
Hendriks returned on June 4 and has since been used seven times, most recently allowing four runs and four hits in one inning against the host White Sox on Sunday.
"I just didn't feel like he was ready, to tell you the truth," Melvin said. "It was a pretty short rehab. The last thing you want to do is have to rehab a guy here and have to work him back in. Just ended up being a difficult period for him to try to get through."
Melvin, often operating without a lefty relief option in recent weeks, has been longing for Buchter's services ever since he landed on the DL on April 27 with a shoulder strain. Buchter made six rehab appearances, striking out five in 5 1/3 scoreless innings.
Before succumbing to injury, Buchter had a 1.69 ERA in 13 appearances in a setup role with the A's, who will use him similarly -- which could offer additional rest for the late-inning trio of Yusmeiro Petit, Lou Trivino and Blake Treinen.
"To have that late-inning lefty is something we've been missing," Melvin said. "Not only does he act as our situational lefty, he can run through some righties.
"He's ready for this now. We were thinking of bringing him back a little earlier, but we wanted to make sure he went back to back, he did that. We wanted to make sure he pitched well before he came here [and] he did that, so he'll be in his normal role."
Worth noting
• Right-hander Daniel Mengden was scheduled for an MRI on Monday on his sprained right foot. Third baseman Matt Chapman (right hand) was also scheduled for another examination in Los Angeles.