With new team, Springs feels back to old healthy form

MESA, Ariz. ¨C Jeffrey Springs is not oblivious to the business side of baseball.

Already traded once early in his career, Springs knew the rotation surplus he was part of with the Rays combined with his contract status ¨C due $21 million over the next two seasons with a $15 million club option for 2027 ¨C and the heavy demand for starting pitching this offseason made him a potential trade candidate.

Sure enough, soon after the 2024 season ended, rumors involving Springs began to circulate. Once trade discussions increased in seriousness, Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander contacted Springs to let him know there was a possibility he could get moved. So when the call finally came in on the morning of Dec. 14 that he had been traded to the Athletics, by no means was Springs shocked.

"You kind of understand how things operate,¡± Springs said. ¡°Neander was as transparent as he could be on that side, which is nice so it¡¯s not just a random phone call one day. They said things gained momentum really quickly, but you never really know until it¡¯s a few days before. ¡­ It was part of the business.¡±

Two years ago, Springs emerged as a frontline starter for Tampa Bay and was treated as such with the reward of a four-year, $31 million contract extension in January 2023 that could pay him up to $65.75 million over five seasons.

Motivated to make good on that deal, Springs got off to an excellent start to the 2023 season just a few months later by racking up 19 strikeouts across 13 scoreless innings over his first two outings. But during his third start of the season on April 13 against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field, Springs immediately felt numbness shooting down his left forearm after firing a fastball to Justin Turner in the fourth inning. Pulled from the game, an MRI later revealed a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament that required Tommy John surgery.

After thriving as a starter with a 2.65 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 122 1/3 innings across his final 24 starts of 2022 and a near-flawless beginning to his '23 campaign, Springs was dealt the devastating blow of learning he would be out of action for at least the next year.

¡°I felt like coming into '23 that I had figured myself out mechanically and how to make adjustments in-game,¡± Springs said. ¡°The first couple of games got underway and I was able to see the results. ¡­ It was extremely frustrating. Tampa blessed me with a great extension and I felt like I let them down. That was the hardest part.¡±

The inability to compete led to some ¡°dark days¡± as Springs described it. The road to recovery from Tommy John is an arduous process, one he credits getting through to the support system of his wife, Bailey, and son, Stetson.

Returning to the mound for the Rays last July, Springs fared well in seven starts by posting a 3.27 ERA, and that was all while feeling a far cry away from where his stuff was pre-surgery. Now free of restrictions and feeling like himself again after his first normal offseason in a couple of years, the 32-year-old lefty is excited to join an A¡¯s rotation that will rely on him along with Luis Severino and JP Sears as its top three starters.

¡°From the offseason training, it feels like '21 again where I feel like I can do everything I need to work on,¡± Springs said. ¡°Physically, I feel good. I can pick it up. I can let it eat. I can do everything and there¡¯s no second-guessing. There¡¯s no pain or anything I had to deal with for the last two years.¡±

Manager Mark Kotsay does not anticipate any workload restrictions for Springs as he approaches nearly two years removed from surgery.

¡°We felt like the way he finished up last year that a full, healthy offseason would benefit him,¡± Kotsay said. He has confidence. ¡­ I think Jeffrey is looking forward to making 30-plus starts this year.¡±

Making a start against the A¡¯s last August, Springs saw firsthand why this A¡¯s squad that went 39-37 over the final 76 games of last season enters this Spring Training with playoff aspirations.

¡°They went on a run at the end,¡± Springs said. ¡°Tough team to pitch against. They do several different things on the basepaths and hit for power. A lot of young, really good arms. ¡­ When you¡¯re the unknown, so to speak, you can really shock people. I¡¯m hoping that we can go on a really good run.¡±