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The Oakland A’s will hold their alternate training site camp in Stockton this summer, and there will be one major difference from how it operated last year — they’ll get to play games against another team.
The A’s announced their alt-site roster on Sunday, which includes 26 players, or 27 pending the completion of a current DFA. In addition, there’s a tentative schedule of 16 scrimmages against the San Francisco Giants alt-site players.
With the minor league season not starting until May, the 2021 alt-sites provide somewhere for MLB reserve players to stay warm and continue getting practice reps. However, the alt-roster doesn’t include younger lower-minors prospects like it did last year when the minors were canceled entirely, instead looking more like a pure Triple-A squad. It’s not yet clear what will happen with the alt-sites once the minors do begin next month.
Players from the alt-site can be called up to the majors as if they were in the minors, meaning that they need to be on the 40-man roster (or get added to it with a corresponding move) in order to come up to MLB. Up to five players may travel with the A’s on MLB road trips, with one spot on the taxi squad reserved for a catcher. Being on the taxi squad does not signify a transaction and does not change anything about a player’s status other than physical geographic location at the time a call-up is needed.
The alt-site roster below includes 26 players, but it could add one more. Outfielder Skye Bolt was DFA’d on Thursday, and if he clears waivers then he could potentially stick around. Players in —italics are not on the 40-man roster.
Update: LHP A.J. Puk was called up to the majors Monday, and Bolt was claimed off waivers by the Giants.
| Pitchers | Hitters |
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Starters Daulton Jefferies (R) James Kaprielian (R) Grant Holmes (R) —Paul Blackburn (R) —Parker Dunshee (R) —Brian Howard (R) Relievers Jordan Weems (R) Miguel Romero (R) —Domingo Acevedo (R) —Argenis Angulo (R) —Matt Blackham (R) —Ben Bracewell (R) —Deolis Guerra (R) |
Catchers Austin Allen (L) —Francisco Peña (R) —Carlos Perez (R) Infielders Vimael Machin (L) —Pete Kozma (R) —Frank Schwindel (R) —Jacob Wilson (R) —Edwin Diaz (R) Outfielders Seth Brown (L) Luis Barrera (L) Greg Deichmann (L) —Cody Thomas (L) |
In addition, injured MLB starting pitcher Mike Fiers will throw three innings in the club’s first scrimmage Monday, reports insider Martin Gallegos. Fiers is rehabbing from a lumbar strain that landed him on the injured list.
Among the notable omissions, reliever Wandisson Charles was optioned down to Double-A when he was cut from spring camp, so it’s not a surprise to see him absent from what is effectively an April Triple-A team. Spring NRI pitchers Cristian Alvarado, Montana DuRapau, Brian Schlitter, and Trey Supak are not listed. On the hitter side, outfield prospect Buddy Reed is injured (quad strain).
The scrimmage schedule looks like this for now, subject to change. Games are set to alternate between the A’s camp in Stockton and the Giants alt-home in Sacramento. Start times are 1 p.m. PT unless otherwise noted.
- Mon, 4/5, Stockton
- Wed, 4/7, Sacramento
- Fri, 4/9
- Sat, 4/10
- Mon, 4/12, 3 p.m.
- Tue, 4/13, 3 p.m.
- Fri, 4/16
- Sat, 4/17
- Mon, 4/19
- Wed, 4/21
- Sat, 4/24
- Sun, 4/25
- Tue, 4/27, 3 p.m.
- Wed, 4/28, 3 p.m.
- Fri, 4/30
- Sat, 5/1
The team will be managed by Triple-A Las Vegas skipper Fran Riordan, with a coaching staff featuring Rick Rodriguez (pitching), Tommy Everidge (hitting), Brian McArn (assistant hitting), Craig Conklin (assistant hitting). Click here for more info on this year’s minor league coaches.
Have received clarification that, even though fans will be allowed to attend the A's/Giants alt site games played in Sacramento, fans will not be allowed to attend the alt site games played in Stockton. So go see them in Sacramento if you can!
— Athletics Farm (@AthleticsFarm) April 3, 2021
