Canha expected back soon after favorable MRI

May 1st, 2019

BOSTON -- ’s wrist injury is nothing the A’s are too concerned about.

After Canha underwent an MRI with Dr. Steven Shin in Los Angeles on Tuesday, results revealed no structural damage on the wrist injury he sustained in Sunday’s loss to the Blue Jays. The official diagnosis was a sprained right wrist, and Canha was given a cortisone shot to alleviate the pain and inflammation.

“It doesn’t look to be a long-term thing,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “Hopefully in 3-4 days, he can start doing some stuff again. I think we caught a break on that one.”

Canha was slashing .200/.377/.375 with two home runs and four RBIs in 18 games before the injury, providing great value with his versatility as he spent time at first base, left field and center field. He’s eligible to come off the IL on May 9, around the same time Matt Olson is expected to return from injury.

Once both return, the A’s will likely have to make a decision on . The veteran first baseman, who was brought in to fill Olson’s spot during the injury, is off to a slow start, batting .162 with one home run and four RBIs through 25 games.

Roster move looms
The A’s currently have nine relievers in the bullpen, but that’s likely to change by Friday when they begin a three-game series at Pittsburgh. The move to a National League park means they will likely need to send out a reliever in favor of a position player to lengthen their current two-man bench.