Elephant Rumblings: More cuts as Opening Day nears

Happy Monday, Athletics Nation!

Another Opening Day hopeful had a big game yesterday. Abraham Toro homered and drove in four, leading the A’s to a 6-4 victory over the Royals. That was a well-timed shot for Toro, who started the game at third base, where competition is getting a bit more interesting in the wake of yesterday’s sending down of Jordan Diaz.

But as Nico reminded us in his latest wheat/chaff report, a hot Spring Training only does so much to erase much larger samples of mediocracy. Don’t expect too much excitement at the hot corner in the near future, as the A’s depth chart is looking a bit chaffy there at the moment.

You can get the full scoop on yesterday’s cuts at the A’s MLB site, along with the most recent injury updates.

If you’re hungry for another installment of A’s-relocation-clownshow ridicule, Scott Ostler at the San Francisco Chronicle has you covered. He’s always been up for a good jab at the A’s, and he pulled no punches in yesterday’s piece. Some Vegas fans may have gotten a first taste of A’s baseball in the Aviators’ stands at “Big League Weekend,” but Ostler wants them to imagine what it will really be like underneath the Big Armadillo come 2028.

A’s outfielder Lawrence Butler has declared that the New Oakland Athletics will exceed expectations on the field in 2024, and he’s been backing up his words of confidence with a hot bat in Spring Training, slashing .423/.484/.538 through 11 games. Sonja Chen at MLB.com discusses how Butler is energizing the A’s rebuild along with teammates who are leading the team’s youth movement.

Have a wonderful week, AN.

A’s Coverage:

• Toro drives the A’s to victory with 4 RBIs
• Wheats And Chaffs From Early Spring Training Successes
• Injuries & Moves: A’s trim Spring Training roster
• Imagine MLB, Las Vegas style: A’s swimming in cost overruns at Fisherbowl ($)
• How Butler is energizing the Athletics’ rebuild

MLB News & Interest:

• Mariners Sign Ryne Stanek
• 10 players having a scorching Spring Training
• With help from Bob Melvin, Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee meets idol Ichiro Suzuki ($)
• Trevor Bauer faces Dodgers minor leaguers: ‘Obvious that I was still elite’ ($)
• NL West Notes: Ahmed, Luciano, Machado, Otto, Treinen, Graterol
• Joey Votto Discusses Blue Jays, Reds, Free Agency
• Baseball, culture provide ‘great experience’ for Sox in DR
• Every team’s projected 2024 home run leader
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

The Bull was raging yesterday.

Roster moves.