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Oakland A's injuries: Henderson Alvarez MRI 'inconclusive' & Mark Canha out for season

Plus updates on Jed Lowrie, Liam Hendriks, and R.J. Alvarez.

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland A's manager Bob Melvin says Henderson Alvarez's MRI returned "inconclusive", tweets A's beat writers (including the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser) from Bob Melvin's pre-game press conference. The MRI will be sent to Dr. James Andrews, who performed Alvarez's shoulder surgery in 2015, for a second opinion, tweets CSN California's Joe Stiglich. Alvarez did throw on Wednesday morning, however:

Before Tuesday's game, however, Oakland A's Dugout Show host Chris Townsend said he had heard that Henderson Alvarez's MRI returned "not good" and that Alvarez's velocity was way down last Sunday in what was supposed to be his final rehab start before joining the A's rotation this week.

Mark Canha out for season

On Tuesday, Mark Canha disclosed to A's beat writers (including the Bay Area News Group's John Hickey) that he has elected to undergo season-ending surgery for a hip impingement that has been bothering him all of this season. Canha, writes Hickey, "had hip and back problems dating to the final days of the 2015 season and he wasn't at all sure a cortisone shot would accomplish what he needed it to."

The good news is that there is no labrum damage. He only needs to have his femur shaved down because it is "somewhat misshapen." Sean Manaea and Eric Surkamp have also had the surgery and returned to action "with no new problems."

What the Canha news appears to mean is that Billy Butler moves from being the platoon DH against left-handed pitching to being the platoon first baseman against left-handed pitchers, at least until a better alternative is available. The A's have called up Max Muncy, but he is a left-handed batting corner infielder and outfielder who was was one of Triple-A Nashville's top hitters. Prospect Renato Nunez could eventually be called up if there are plate appearances available, but continued development is the priority for the 22-year-old.

The A's also now have an open spot on the 40-man roster, effectively, as they can transfer Canha to the 60-day disabled list when necessary.

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