ANAHEIM -- A's lefty Sean Manaea would have been the easiest -- and most obvious -- choice to start Wednesday's American League Wild Card Game in New York.
Instead, Manaea will be relegated to the sidelines, and in a sling, following left shoulder surgery to repair the labrum and create more room within the joint capsule. The A's, meanwhile, are scrambling to figure out the next-best plan.
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Manaea, who is expected to miss the majority of 2019, was still in high spirits on Saturday after joining the team in Anaheim and preparing to travel with his teammates for the showdown with the Yankees.
"It's amazing," Manaea said. "I missed everybody here, and it's nice seeing everyone. Just being here for the last series is awesome, and I'm really looking forward to the Wild Card Game in New York."
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The A's training staff believes Manaea had been pitching with chronic shoulder impingement for at least two years. Yet the 26-year-old still managed to turn in a 3.59 ERA in 27 starts this season, throwing a no-hitter against the Red Sox on April 21.
"It's just something I needed to get done," he said. "I'm glad I got it done. The doc said surgery went well. That's all I can ask for. I just have to take this offseason really seriously, take my rehab really seriously, and it's something to look forward to, just take this time away from baseball just a little bit and figure out some things I need to work on and work on those things and be ready to go."
Several A's players Facetimed the pitcher from Seattle on Monday after clinching a postseason berth, knowing very well it wouldn't have happened without him.
"It was awesome," Manaea said. "I wish I had that firsthand experience, but the fact they reached out to me was really special. All these guys deserve it. We worked our butts off to be here. Just really special to be part of."