The 2024 season is over for a pair of A’s starters. Supervisor Mark Kotsay informed reporters on Thursday that right-hander Luis Medina will endure Tommy John surgical procedure subsequent month. In the meantime, veteran southpaw Alex Wooden is headed for a shoulder process to handle rotator cuff tendinitis (by way of the MLB.com damage tracker).
Neither growth is all that shocking. The A’s introduced earlier this week that Medina had suffered ligament harm in his elbow. Whereas he went for extra analysis within the hope of avoiding surgical procedure, that’s typically one thing of an extended shot. Medina is now set to overlook most or all of subsequent season.
Acquired as a part of the Frankie Montas commerce with the Yankees, Medina has pitched in elements of two seasons for Oakland. He turned in a 5.42 ERA throughout 109 2/3 innings as a rookie. The 25-year-old made eight begins this 12 months, permitting 5.18 earned runs per 9 via 40 frames. He struck out 17.8% of opponents whereas strolling greater than 11% of batters confronted. Medina will accumulate service time whereas he’s on the injured record. The A’s can transfer him to the 60-day IL through the season to open a spot on the 40-man roster. They’ll must put him again on the 40-man or waive him subsequent winter.
Wooden signed an $8.5MM free agent deal in February. The A’s have been hoping for a rebound 12 months from the veteran southpaw, who may have been a midseason commerce chip if wholesome. That sadly was to not be. Wooden pitched 9 instances, permitting a 5.26 ERA over 39 1/3 innings. He posted subpar strikeout and stroll numbers earlier than occurring the IL in mid-Could. Oakland transferred him to the 60-day injured record just a few weeks later.
It’s a 3rd straight disappointing season for Wooden, who final managed a sub-4.00 ERA with the Giants in 2021. He’ll return to free company at the beginning of the offseason and turns 34 in January. It’s potential he’s restricted to minor league presents heading into subsequent season. The A’s didn’t present a lot element on the character of the shoulder surgical procedure nor specify whether or not Wooden is predicted to be prepared for Spring Coaching.
