The Oakland Athletics performed five or six roster maneuvers, depending on how you count them, ahead of Saturday afternoon's contest against the Texas Rangers:
- Placed left-handed reliever Eric O'Flaherty on the 15-day disabled list,
- Designated outfielder Cody Ross for assignment,
- Recalled right-handed reliever R.J. Alvarez from Triple-A Nashville,
- Recalled outfielder Billy Burns from Triple-A Nashville,
- Claimed outfielder Alex Hassan from the Texas Rangers, and
- Optioned Hassan to Triple-A Nashville.
Farewell
Bob Melvin had said after Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Angels that O'Flaherty was dealing with "shoulder soreness," according to the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser. O'Flaherty had not appeared in a game for six days before Thursday's appearance. He faced four batters, giving up a two-out walk and a double to the gap that scored one run. He has an 11.57 ERA with seven innings pitched.
Time to say goodbye
Coming off the 40-man roster is Cody Ross, who I assume will be released as soon as he clears release waivers. The A's will not be on the hook for any salary upon his release, according to Slusser. Ross received only limited playing time while with the A's and made very limited use of it. He was 2-for-22 with three walks and six strikeouts.
Hello old friend
R.J. Alvarez returns to the bullpen after taking a bullet for the A's during their 14-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on April 21. With a desperately shorthanded bullpen, Alvarez plodded through the sixth inning, giving up six runs (one inherited), and recorded two walks in the seventh inning before Fernando Abad came in to immediately allow Kole Calhoun to a hit a three-run home run. As a result, Alvarez's ERA through six innings is 12.00. It was 3.60 before that game.
Alvarez returns after the minimum 10 day stay from April 22 to May 1. He made one appearance for the Nashville Sounds, tossing two innings and striking out two while walking one and conceding no hits over 31 pitches on April 28 against the New Orleans Zephyrs (Marlins).
Welcome back
Billy Burns was sent down in the first week of the season when the A's elected to try out Cody Ross as a platoon outfielder against left-handed pitching. Burns was on the opening day roster but did not appear in a game before the A's sent him to Nashville on April 8.
The switch-hitting Burns will lead off this evening against the Rangers against right-handed pitcher Nick Martinez.
Rocket man
The Oakland Athletics claimed outfielder Alex Hassan for the third time since the end of the World Series. The first time the A's lost him was to add Renato Nunez to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, the Baltimore Orioles claimed him then. The second time was to add Cody Ross to the 40-man roster, the Texas Rangers claimed him then.