Gray can throw — sooner than expected
MESA, Ariz. — Sonny Gray didn’t think the lat strain that has sidelined him the past two weeks was a major issue, and he got the go-ahead to resume throwing after a visit to specialist Dr. Anthony Romeo in Chicago.
“Everything looked good,” Gray said. “He said, ‘Go ahead and start throwing when you get back,’ so that’s what we’re going to do. We’ll see how it goes.”
“It was good news, definitely,” manager Bob Melvin said.
Romeo is best known for the “Peavy procedure,” which saved Jake Peavy’s career after a torn latissimus dorsi (back) muscle. Gray had what was initially described as a moderate lat strain, and he was expected to stop throwing for three weeks.
Starting his throwing programs at two weeks, instead, means there is a chance Gray could be back a bit earlier; he had been targeted to return to the A’s in late April. He emphasized, though, that his throwing program will be based on how he feels each day and the team will be cautious, so there isn’t a timetable yet for his return. That probably won’t happen until he starts throwing off a mound. On Tuesday, Gray threw at a distance of 75 feet.
“Mentally and physically, this is good for him,” Melvin said. “No real plan, just go day by day.”
The reduction in time he was shut down means that Gray won’t have lost quite as much tone as he would have at three weeks, and he has been able to do his arm strengthening work throughout. He is not quite starting from scratch, but he still will need to build back strength with a sensible progression.
“I’m excited to go out there and throw a baseball,” he said. “It’ll be good to be out there.”
Chris Bassitt, coming back from Tommy John surgery, threw all his pitches Tuesday for the first time since surgery in a 30-pitch bullpen session. He could be back around midseason. Montas in mix: Neither of the candidates for the second lefthanded spot in the Oakland bullpen is performing all that well this spring, and hardthrowing prospect Frankie Montas remains in the mix for that final spot in the bullpen.
“Don’t count him out,” Melvin said.
Ross Detwiler, who has an out in his deal if not on the roster by Tuesday, and Daniel Coulombe are the two lefthanded candidates remaining — and both have 9.39 ERAs. Nonroster right-handers Simon Castro and Cesar Valdez also remain in camp.
The real wild card is Montas, who came from Los Angeles in the Josh Reddick-Rich Hill deal at the trade deadline. Montas, who turned 24 on Tuesday, has thrown 102 mph as recently as October in the Arizona Fall League. Montas has allowed five hits, a walk and one run in six innings, striking out five.
The A’s might have just one bullpen opening if they keep five outfielders, although they could go with four out of the gate in order to keep 13 pitchers. Raul Alcantara is a candidate for the final bullpen spot should the A’s keep 13 pitchers, but if not, he’s likely to land one of the final starting spots.
Like Alcantara and Detwiler, who has been mainly a starter, Montas can work more than one inning, which would be a plus.
Melvin said that the team would like to have a couple of relievers who can go multiple innings. “That factors in as well,” he said.
Melvin said he will talk to the back-end relievers about their roles soon; he has yet to announce a closer, although it’s likely to be incumbent Ryan Madson.
“These guys, it really doesn’t matter to them. They just want to pitch,” Melvin said. “When you have guys like Ryan Madson who is telling me, ‘I’ll pitch anytime you need me to pitch, in any inning,’ that goes a long way in making the conversations easier. That will be another fluid situation as the season goes along, whether it’s someone pitching well or someone pitching multiple innings and not being available the next day.”