Roster update: Kaprielian IL, Garcia optioned, Acevedo and Wilson DFA’d

Making room for Yan Gomes and Josh Harrison

The Oakland A’s made a trade on Friday, acquiring catcher Yan Gomes and utilityman Josh Harrison from the Washington Nationals. The pair of new additions meant two other players would need to go, and the corresponding roster moves came Saturday morning.

The A’s announced four transactions. To clear space on the 40-man roster, reliever Domingo Acevedo and utilityman Jacob Wilson were designated for assignment. To clear space on the active 26-man roster, starting pitcher James Kaprielian was placed on the injured list, and catcher Aramis Garcia was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas.

• RHP James Kaprielian placed on 10-day injured list
• C Aramis Garcia optioned to Triple-A
• RHP Domingo Acevedo DFA’d
• UT Jacob Wilson DFA’d

For Kaprielian, the diagnosis is right shoulder impingement, retroactive to July 28. He last pitched on Tuesday (July 27) and felt the issue the next day, reports insider Martin Gallegos. At the moment, it’s not considered serious, explains Matt Kawahara of the S.F. Chronicle:

Bob Melvin described Kaprielian issue as “inflammation in the AC joint of his shoulder.” Added: “We don’t feel like it’s anything significant. Trying to be cautious with it.”

Top prospect Daulton Jefferies will come up from Triple-A tomorrow (Sunday) to start in place of Kaprielian, adds Kawahara. Jefferies made his MLB debut last season but hasn’t yet pitched in the majors this year.

For Garcia, this is a simple matter of being pushed down the depth chart by a new acquisition. He’s been the club’s second catcher all season, and has received praise for his work behind the plate, but his bat has been unproductive even by the modest standards of a glove-first catcher.

• Garcia, 2021: .205/.239/.318, 56 wRC+, 3 HR, 1.1% BB, 29.8% Ks, .227 xwOBA

In his place, Gomes becomes the second catcher alongside Sean Murphy. Gomes sports a far more robust 104 wRC+ (MLB catcher average is 90 wRC+) along with his own positive defensive reputation.

Meanwhile, two players were cut from the organization entirely, though it’s possible they could still stick around. We’ll find out the results of the two DFA’s over the next week or so, with Acevedo and Wilson facing possibilities that include waiver claims, release, or reassignment back to Las Vegas in a non-roster capacity.

Acevedo has spent most of his season in Triple-A, where’s he’s posted eye-popping numbers that include striking out 40 of the 94 batters he’s faced over just 23⅓ innings, to go with minuscule rates of walks, homers, and hits. He did one brief stint in the majors, including his MLB debut, and in three appearances he worked three total innings with three runs allowed on a pair of homers.

Wilson also made his MLB debut this year, at age 30, and played seven games for the A’s before being optioned to Triple-A on Thursday.

Here’s the updated roster, with the injury report below. Remember, one more move must come tomorrow to bring up Jefferies.

Injury report:

• RHP Trevor Rosenthal, OUT FOR YEAR, entire body (thoracic outlet, hip labrum)
• RHP Mike Fiers, 60-day IL, elbow (no structural damage; shut down for July)
• UT Chad Pinder, 10-day IL, hamstring (likely out thru mid-Aug at least)
• RHP James Kaprielian, 10-day IL, shoulder (hopefully not too serious)

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Welcome to the newest members of the A’s!