Doolittle on 60-day DL
ANAHEIM — The hope when Sean Doolittle went on the disabled list last month was that the closer would be back relatively soon, but that will not be the case, based on Saturday’s transaction.
To make room for A.J. Griffin on the 40-man roster, the A’s placed Doolittle on the 60-day DL, and he will not be eligible to return until July 27.
Doolittle worked in one inning of one game this year, on May 27 against Detroit, before going back on the DL with a left shoulder strain, the same injury that kept him out of spring training and most of the first two months of the season.
Griffin, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, was reinstated from the DL and optioned to Triple-A Nashville. He had not come close to maxing out his minorleague rehab time — a 30-day limit for pitchers — but Oakland’s starters have the second-lowest ERA in the league so there was no big-league spot for Griffin.
The right-hander gave up eight hits, including four homers, and six runs in a rehab start with Nashville on Friday.
“A number of different things didn’t look great,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said of Griffin’s outing Friday. “But he didn’t walk anybody. ... It was probably his longest stint, 80 pitches, and I know he felt good. That’s what we’re looking for right now.
“He’s not ready to be here right now, his first outing of 80 pitches. It’s going to take him a while before we’re looking at bringing him up here.”
Melvin said Griffin’s velocity is at about 86 mph, not quite where he needs it. Plus, three of the four homers Friday were on the first pitch, an indication minor-leaguers were being extra aggressive against a bigleague-caliber pitcher. Griffin is known for allowing homers; he gave up a major-leaguehigh 36 in 2013. Briefly: Ike Davis (quad) went 1-for-4 with Triple-A Nashville. ... The A’s signed nine more draft picks, including right-hander Dakota Chalmers, their third-round pick; University of Nevada second baseman Ryan Howell, who is from Brentwood; and Nevada catcher Jordan Devencenzi, who is from Tracy.