A’s Cotton to have surgery on right elbow, sit out year

Oakland pitcher Jharel Cotton will undergo season-ending surgery on his right elbow this week.

The 26-year-old right-hander had been diagnosed with a sprain, had a second scan taken on his elbow Friday and then was told he would need Tommy John surgery.

Cotton was expected to be in the Athletics’ rotation this season after going 9-10 with a 5.38 ERA in 24 starts as a rookie in 2017. He had a 3.75 ERA over 12 innings, with 16 strikeouts, this spring.

The A’s figure to go into the season with Kendall Graveman, Sean Manaea and Daniel Mengden in the rotation. They are still evaluating other starters, including right-handers Paul Blackburn and Andrew Triggs and prized lefthanded prospect A.J. Puk.