The nine-and-a-half month grind starts now for the A’s. After finishing 60-102 in the American League cellar last year, the A's front office is hoping a flurry of low-profile moves will make the team more competitive.
Oakland’s pitchers and catchers reported to the team’s spring training facility in Mesa, Arizona, on Wednesday and we received some updates on the status of their two most experienced returning starters – All-Star Paul Blackburn and James Kaprielian.
Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle relayed the latest from the desert. Both Blackburn (finger) and Kaprielian (AC joint) underwent surgeries in 2022 but told Kawahara they have already had multiple throwing sessions on the mound.
Blackburn spoke to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com about the state of his right middle finger, which suffered an flexor tendon sheath tear last August.
“I feel really good right now,” Blackburn said. “I couldn’t be happier with where I’m at. The way my body feels and where my mind is, I’m just excited to get back. I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve been able to go out and compete against somebody.”
That’s good news for the A’s, who have plenty of inexperienced options vying for starter spots this spring. After the team traded away ace Cole Irvin to the Baltimore Orioles in recent weeks, Blackburn and Kap figure to have an inside track at making the rotation, along with free-agent signees like Shintaro Fujinami and Drew Rucinski.
Oakland also traded away A.J. Puk this weekend to the Miami Marlins for 2019 No. 4 overall pick JJ Bleday, an intriguing 25-year-old outfielder with a lot of power, a low contact rate and plenty of strikeouts. Without Puk, the A’s still have a host of young starters trying to make the opening day roster, like Ken Waldichuk, Kyle Muller, Adrian Martinez and JP Sears, along with Adam Oller.
Blackburn faded after making his first career All-Star team last summer, finishing with a 4.28 ERA, 4.21 FIP and 1.26 WHIP in 21 starts, with an 89/30 K/BB ratio. Kaprielian set career highs in starts (26) and innings pitched (134) and finished the second half of the season strong en route to a 4.23 ERA, 4.63 FIP and 1.34 WHIP.
On most teams, Blackburn and Kaprielian would be middle-to-back-end rotation options, but they’re expected to be the leaders of this green Oakland staff in 2023.
