Ota?ez setback opens a spot in A's bullpen

MESA, Ariz. -- With just over a week of games left this spring, the Athletics might have an unexpected opening in their bullpen that needs to be filled.

Michel Otañez, a projected member of the A’s bullpen, is expected to miss the start of the season after he was diagnosed with a right shoulder impingement. The right-hander experienced discomfort following his outing against the Reds on March 13, and an MRI revealed the injury, as announced by manager Mark Kotsay before Sunday’s 7-3 loss to the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium.

Ota?ez emerged as a high-leverage option last year for an A’s bullpen that combined for a 3.83 ERA -- the 13th-lowest mark in the Majors -- and when healthy will be counted on to be a strength for a young club with serious playoff aspirations. The 27-year-old, whose average fastball velocity of 97.8 mph last season ranked in the 96th percentile of all Major League relievers, had appeared in six Cactus League games this spring, posting a 3.38 ERA with 11 strikeouts and six walks in 5 1/3 innings.

The A’s will shut down Ota?ez for the time being and do not have a timeline for his return at the moment, though a typical recovery time for a right shoulder impingement is generally 2-3 weeks.

"With [Ota?ez] being doubtful, it opens up a spot in the bullpen that may not have been there,” Kotsay said. “The construction of the bullpen is important in how we start out. Last season we started out with two long guys in the bullpen and it seemed to work really well.”

How the A’s go about filling Ota?ez’s spot will largely depend on how they decide to build their bullpen. Assuming they begin the season with two left-handed options, the eight-man group figures to include Mason Miller, José Leclerc, Tyler Ferguson, T.J. McFarland, Rule 5 pick Noah Murdock and Hogan Harris. Mitch Spence, currently in the mix with Joey Estes for the A’s fifth starter job, is the likely long man if he does not make the rotation.

That leaves one available bullpen spot. Here’s a look at some candidates:

Internal options
Sunday’s roster cuts provided some clarity, as No. 18 prospect Grant Holman and Elvis Alvarado were optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas, while non-roster invitee Matt Krook was reassigned to Minor League camp.

This leaves Justin Sterner as really the only other relief option on the 40-man roster still in camp. Sterner, who was claimed off waivers from the Rays this offseason, has yet to allow an earned run with 11 strikeouts and one walk over 11 innings this spring.

The A’s also could consider bringing back relievers who were previously optioned from big league camp, a group including right-handers Dylan Floro, Jason Alexander, Tanner Dodson, Holman and Alvarado or left-hander Jacob Lopez.

External options
There are a number of veteran free agents still on the market. The most high-profile names available are right-handers David Robertson, Craig Kimbrel and Joe Kelly. Left-handed options include Will Smith and Brooks Raley.

Soderstrom staying versatile
Tyler Soderstrom continues to get reps behind the plate, with Friday’s game marking his fifth start at catcher this spring.

Kotsay said it is unlikely that Soderstrom, who projects to be the club’s starting first baseman, breaks camp as the primary backup catcher -- Jhonny Pereda has likely earned that job after non-roster invitee Willie MacIver was part of Sunday's roster cuts -- but the A’s are keeping the 23-year-old comfortable with catching and could utilize him at the position during the regular season.