Cotton returns for MRI on elbow
MESA, Ariz. — Jharel Cotton, one of the leading candidates for a spot in Oakland’s rotation, was sent to the Bay Area for an MRI, manager Bob Melvin said Tuesday.
“He’s going home, so there’s some concern,” Melvin said.
Cotton didn’t allow a hit in four scoreless innings Monday against the Giants and walked three; Melvin said Cotton came out of the game because of elbow discomfort.
The only previous elbow issues Cotton has had were a fractured elbow that ended his minor-league season in 2013 and an inflamed elbow in 2012. Last year, when he went 9-10 with a 5.58 ERA as a rookie, he missed time with a thumb blister and a groin strain.
“That’s a shame if he misses much time,” said one scout who’d seen Cotton’s start before last, when Cotton had allowed three hits and one run in four innings vs. Seattle. “He’d really gotten that changeup working well again, and everything was down in the zone. That’s the best I’d seen him.”
Cotton is visiting team orthopedist Dr. William Workman on Wednesday, with the MRI scheduled for Thursday, and the second-year righthander will not make his scheduled start Saturday. With the A’s playing split-squad games that day, Daniel Gossett, who worked three innings against the Giants on Monday, is likely to get one of Saturday’s starts in place of Cotton.
Andrew Triggs, whose chances of making the rotation out of camp would increase should Cotton miss much time, is scheduled to start Friday. The A’s have had five starters — Cotton, Triggs, Gossett, Daniel Mengden and Paul Blackburn — competing for three rotation spots.
A.J. Puk, Oakland’s top prospect, has been the team’s best starter by far this spring, but he hasn’t pitched above Double-A Midland, and if the team waits until mid-April to bring him up, they’d get an extra year of service time. If they wait until mid-June, they’d avoid a fourth year of arbitration.
In addition, outfielder Ramón Laureano, hit on the hand by Roberto Gomez during the A’s contentious game against the Giants, has a broken finger, Melvin said. Laureano, who was not considered a roster candidate, is likely to miss several weeks. He was sent to minor-league camp Tuesday.
Reliever Ryan Dull, out since the first Cactus League game with shoulder soreness, threw a 20-pitch bullpen session; Melvin called him a “long shot at this point” to be ready for the Opening Day roster. On the farm: The A’s announced that, in conjunction with East Bay nonprofit Acta Non Verba, they are adding a garden near the right-field flag poles to grow produce and flowers. Elementary through high-school students will tend the redwood planters, and Acta Non Verba will sell the produce to fund students’ college investments.
“We are thrilled to partner with Acta Non Verba to convert an unused space on the concourse into a unique, interactive gathering place for our fans. Acta Non Verba does wonderful work in Oakland, and this is a dynamic way for us to engage with youth and their families in our community while investing in their futures,” said A’s president Dave Kaval. “This fun space brings a whole new meaning to ‘Rooted in Oakland.’ ”
Briefly: Lefty Jairo Labourt, designated for assignment Monday to make room for Jonathan Lucroy, threw an unimpressive bullpen session during his brief time with Oakland. “He was all over the place,” said one onlooker . ... Lucroy is likely to make his A’s debut Saturday. The team has split-squad games against the Mariners and Giants.