Casilla gets green card

The A’s have a brand-new U.S. resident in their midst: Reliever Santiago Casilla , at 37, is at last a green-card holder.

The process took Casilla more than seven years, he said — much longer than usual because he’d used a fake name, Jairo Garcia, when he signed his first contract with the A’s as a teenager. He pitched in the United States under that name from 2000 through 2005 before alerting the team and Major League Baseball about his real name before the 2006 season.

“That made it really hard,” Casilla said of the green-card process. “I’m really happy it’s happened.”

The false-name issue typically delays or complicates getting into and out of the country — “Every time,” Casilla said.

“Things will be much easier,” A’s traveling secretary Mickey Morabito said.

Smoother travel is not why he

wanted to gain residency, however. Casilla, who now will live in Miami in the offseason, said he wanted to establish residency so his four children can attend U.S. schools.

Casilla has spent his entire big-league career in the Bay Area with the A’s and Giants.

Injury corner: Reliever Liam Hendriks, on the disabled list following surgery to remove a cyst in his hip, was sent to extended spring training in Mesa, Ariz., where he’ll join rehabbing starter Paul Blackburn (forearm).

Hendriks, who hopes to be sent on a rehab assignment

soon, said that he has been feeling great for weeks and he can tell the difference in the way the ball is coming out of his hand, thanks to the improved extension.

Hendriks took along an extra bag filled with equipment for minor-leaguers who don’t have deals with equipment companies.

Reliever Ryan Buchter, out since April 26 (left shoulder strain), is throwing at a distance of 75 feet, so he’s still at least a week and a half away from throwing off the mound.

Briefly: Catcher Dustin Garneau, designated for assignment Monday, was claimed by the White Sox . ... Shortstop Marcus Semien is scheduled to go on paternity leave soon — Semien’s wife, Tarah, is due with their second child Saturday — so rookie Franklin Barreto might get time at shortstop, as might Chad Pinder . ... With the team at home through next Thursday, Semien might not take the entire three days’ leave allowed . ... In a scoring change from Wednesday, Seattle’s Kyle Seager was awarded an RBI in the fourth and an earned run was charged to Daniel Gossett.