Athletics manager Bob Melvin said Wednesday that left-hander Jordan Norberto may work as a starter in the minors if he doesn’t make the bullpen out of spring training.
Norberto was used as a starter with Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League, but he hasn’t made a professional start since A-ball in 2008. The 25-year-old southpaw can reach the mid-90s with his fastball, but he has walked 29 batters over 26 2/3 innings in the big leagues.
Source: twitter.com
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Manny Ramirez will arrive at A’s camp on Friday.
Ramirez signed a minor league contract with Oakland on Monday that carries a $306,000 prorated major leauge salary. He’s allowed to be a full participant in spring training and can play in Cactus League games, but he’ll have to sit out the first 50 dates on the Athletics’ regular-season schedule due to last year’s failed PED test.
Source: twitter.com
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Dallas Braden threw 25 pitches Monday in his fifth bullpen session since surgery to repair a torn capsule muscle in his shoulder last May.
“I feel like every day we’re making progress in terms of being able to stretch it out a little farther, put a little more on it, and the biggest area of focus is the bounceback,” said Braden. “Everything has been positive thus far in terms of that. I’ve continued to get stronger.” Braden is expected to open the season on the disabled list, but the hope is that he could be back when the A’s need a fifth starter on April 16.
Source: mlb.com
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Peter Gammons of MLB Network reports that Manny Ramirez’s deal with the Athletics includes a $306,000 in prorated salary.
Ramirez officially signed a minor-league contract with Oakland on Monday. He’ll be paid a $500,000 prorated salary for time spent in the majors, but since he still has to serve a 50-game suspension, $306,000 will be his maximum base salary. This is about as low-risk as you can get, as the contract is non-guaranteed and Ramirez can be released at any time.
Source: twitter.com
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Athletics signed DH Manny Ramirez to a minor league contract.
Ramirez will earn a salary of $500,000 if he eventually lands a spot on Oakland’s 25-man roster and is able to maintain it. The 39-year-old still has to serve a 50-game PED suspension and seems doubtful to take on anything greater than a part-time DH role once he is finally cleared to play. Manny can be left undrafted in all fantasy leagues.
Source: twitter.com
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Brett Anderson threw off a mound Monday for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Anderson gave himself an “A+” after the short throwing session. The left-hander is ahead of schedule in his return from the major elbow procedure but probably won’t appear in a big league game before August.
Source: twitter.com
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Athletics manager Bob Melvin said Grant Balfour and Brian Fuentes were “obvious” candidates for the team’s vacant closer job.
Melvin also mentioned the names of Fautino De Los Santos and Joey Devine. At this point in time, Balfour is likely the favorite for the job, but De Los Santos might be the best long-term bet. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the team wound up using a host of players for the gig, making it an undesirable situation for fantasy purposes.
Source: twitter.com
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Dallas Braden, who missed most of 2011 following shoulder surgery, has already thrown three bullpen sessions and is scheduled for a fourth on Monday.
Oakland’s plan is to have Braden open the year on the DL and then make his season debut on April 16, which is the first day they’ll need a fifth starter. Of course, there’s a long way to go before he can really be penciled in.
Source: sfgate.com
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Brett Anderson (elbow) will throw off the mound for the first time since surgery Monday.
Anderson remains ahead of schedule in his return from Tommy John surgery and is hopeful to be back in the rotation by mid-August, but expectations for this year should be kept in check. He could reemerge as one of the game’s top young lefties as soon as 2013.
Source: twitter.com
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Coco Crisp told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that he would prefer to play center field.
Many have speculated that that the newly-signed Yoenis Cespedes will play center field, but Crisp still thinks he’s the best option. “I’m going to make all the plays,” said Crisp. “If someone feels there’s someone better than me, it’s hard for me to believe. Unless he’s a demigod come down from the heavens, no one is going to outshine me in center field.” Crisp passed on an offer from the Rays in order to return as the A’s center fielder, so it will be interesting to see if he embraces a potential move to left field. He could become trade bait if he manages to stay healthy.
Source: sfgate.com
Tagged as: Athletics, Coco Crisp, news