Rodriguez working toward 2014 A's debut

OAKLAND -- There's another member of the Jed Lowrie trade who roams the A's clubhouse every day, mostly inconspicuously.

Rehabbing right-hander Fernando Rodriguez has yet to pitch for the A's since being dealt with Lowrie by the Astros, but he's around the Coliseum during every homestand working his way back from Tommy John surgery.

Rodriguez, who underwent the procedure in March, is progressing on schedule. He's throwing long toss and, once out to 120 feet in a few weeks, will pitch from flat ground before graduating to a mound. Barring any setbacks, he hopes to be throwing bullpen sessions by October.

Rodriguez said he'd be up to pitching in the Arizona Fall League or with a winter ball team if allowed to do so. Either way, he expects to be at 100 percent by Spring Training.

The 28-year-old right-hander compiled a 10.13 ERA in four Spring Training games with the A's before learning that his ulnar collateral ligament was torn. Last year, he appeared in 71 games for Houston, compiling a 5.38 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings.