Elephant Rumblings: Estes Demotion Creates Questions And Openings

MLB news roundup

Rise and shine A’s fans. It’s time to get the day started.

Yesterday the team made the decision to option right-handed starter Joey Estes to Triple-A Las Vegas, opening up a spot in the back of the starting rotation. Due to a short start from the righty, long reliever Mitch Spence had to step up and provide length from the bullpen. He answered the call, pitching four full innings and into a fifth before calling it a day. Quite the feat from an arm whose longest outing this year had been two innings, though he was a workhorse for the club last year in the rotation.

Taking Estes’ spot on the roster is Jason Alexander, a 32-year old journeyman who has just 18 major league appearances under his belt from 2022. The club brought the starter aboard as a depth piece but will turn to him after just one outing in Triple-A. With Spence being unavailable to the club for the next few days after his long outing, the club was in need of a short-term long reliever and that’s what Alexander can temporarily be.

Since Estes’ turn through the rotation just came up on Sunday the team has some time before they have to decide who takes his spot in the starting five, and they plan to take advantage of that time to think about their options, per Martin Gallegos:

The smart money would be on the team simply moving Spence into the starting rotation, with Alexander taking over Spence’s role as the long man in the bullpen. The 26=year old Spence was after all kept in the majors after Estes had won the job, and he remained with the club after Estes was sent down and he would be out for the next few days.

Still, even though Spence impressed in his previous time out on the mound with seven strikeouts and no walks, the coaching staff for some reason doesn’t want to give the job to him outright. After an impressive rookie campaign last season one would think he would be in the lead for the gig, but there are other options that the team could go with, and they are worth at least considering while they have the chance to.

The club could turn to another young pitcher other than Spence who has been dealing in Triple-A. Righty JT Ginn, who was among the final roster cuts in spring, has looked great in two starts for the Aviators, going five shutout innings with eight strikeouts and one walk in his first start, and then six innings of two-run ball with 11 K’s and one walk in his second outing. No home runs allowed in either contest. It’s worth remembering that Ginn had a successful run to end last season with the big league team, pitching to a solid 3.91 ERA over five starts in the month of September. If the club decides to not go with Spence, Ginn would be the likely next candidate in line.

The club clearly doesn’t see Alexander as a starting option at the moment, but another option is that the club could simply push the can down the road and go with a 4-man rotation for the short term. The club does have an off-day on Thursday followed by another on Monday, which affords the team the chance to get creative with their pitching schedule and skip the fifth starter’s day altogether. With Spence and Alexander in the bullpen the team would be well-prepared to survive a short outing from a starter, but messing with the starter’s schedule this early in the season doesn’t seem like the best idea.

So what do you think the Athletics will do with the fifth starter’s role? Will Spence step up and take it? Will the club surprise us and turn to a different arm? Or will they eschew everyone and turn to an undermanned rotation for a turn or two? Discuss below, and have an excellent Tuesday A’s fans!

A’s Coverage:

• Athletics drop second straight, fall to Padres 5-4
• Eyeball Scout On First 8 Games… A Mixed Bag, Of Course
• A‘s roster moves: Estes optioned, Alexander recalled
• Athletics select Jason Alexander

MLB News & Interest:

• Blue Jays sign Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to 14-year, $500 million contract extension
• Mariners outfielder Victor Robles placed on IL with dislocated shoulder
• Cardinals catcher Ivan Hererea out a month with bone bruise
• Dodgers lefty Blake Snell placed on IL with left shoulder inflammation, hoping for quick return
• Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti sustains right thumb fracture
• Red Sox’ Duran shares story of suicide attempt
• Ohtani, Betts, Dodgers visit Trump at White House
• How next year’s FA market looks with Vlad Jr. off the board
• Today in Baseball History

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