A's injury report and the luxury of depth

The main thing A's general manager Billy Beane wanted to acquire this past offseason was depth. Thank goodness for that!

As Brett Anderson seems to somehow get dinged up on a weekly basis, the A's have a solid Major League-quality option waiting in Sacramento in Dan Straily. As Hiro Nakajima waits to take his first regular season AB as an Athletic, Jed Lowrie has shined at shortstop (and Eric Sogard has continued his scorching spring). As Yoenis Cespedes recovers from a hand injury after tumbling into second base, the A's can rely on Seth Smith in the outfield and at the plate. Should another outfielder or first baseman get hurt, Oakland can call up Shane Peterson. It's great to have options.

While the A's may be going through a rough spot in Florida, it's only April. Relax.

In the past, when starters have been hurt or ineffective, it's been up to the Clayton Mortensons and Matt Watsons of the world to fill in. That didn't go so well. Beane adapted, knowing that the team's track record for health has been less than stellar. It's really paying off now.

Some injury updates:

— Brett Anderson (ankle) is possibly on schedule to make his next start, Wednesday in Boston. (Slusser)

Brett Anderson threw what manager Bob Melvin terms "a very aggressive side" session today, and it appears as if Anderson's sprained right ankle has healed enough so that the team is optimistic that he will start on Wednesday at Fenway Park.

Just in case, however, it's likely that Dan Straily will be held out of his start for Triple-A Sacramento today. The A's will need to monitor how Anderson recovers tomorrow, and if there is some sort of setback with Anderson's ankle, Straily clearly would be the guy to fill in.

— Yoenis Cespedes (hand) is hitting off a tee, then will start taking batting practice once he feels well enough. He took two-handed swings today (and will do that again Monday), after some one-handed swings earlier. (Hickey)

"He may need a few at-bats in rehab games,'' Melvin said. "We'll take that into consideration.''

Cespedes is eligible to come off the disabled list April 28.

— Hiro Nakajima (hamstring) will go to extended spring training Monday. (Slusser)

Hiro Nakajima will head to extended spring training in Arizona on Monday as he recovers from a hamstring injury, and he is likely to get in games there. He's expected to play shortstop, at least initially. It would not surprise me a bit, however, if the A's begin to have him work at some other spots while there. I don't see any way Jed Lowrie is coming out of the A's shortstop spot any time soon, so Nakajima needs to be as versatile as all of Oakland's other infielders if he ever is to have a shot at playing much.

— Adam Rosales (ribs) joined AAA Sacramento on his rehab assignment today. (Pratt)

With @RiverCats at home, Adam Rosales will move there for rehab. He went 6 for 12 (.500) with 3 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI with @stocktonports.