A’s manager Mark Kotsay spoke to NBC Sports California’s Brodie Brazil on Monday at the MLB Winter Meetings in San Diego about Oakland’s catching situation.
The Athletics are in the middle of a rebuild, and while the organization awaits for their young talent to arrive on the MLB squad, the team can experiment with their current lineup and pitching staff.
Oakland could allow a reliever to prove himself as a starting pitcher, as manager Mark Kotsay revealed during the MLB Winter Meetings that A.J. Puk wants a crack at beginning games on the mound every fifth day for the A's in the upcoming 2023 season.
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"A.J. expressed his desire to get back and kind of compete for a starting rotation spot. I think we're going to make that available to him," Kotsay told reporters on Monday. "I think that A.J. showed last season that he can handle the rigors of a full season and get through it, and he understands his body better.
"I think he came to camp and matured throughout the season both on the field and off the field with his routines. My expectation level is he comes into camp and has this opportunity to be stretched out and possibly be in the rotation."
The 27-year-old appeared in 62 games last season, posting a 4-3 record along with a 3.12 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and four saves. It seems as though Puk wants to carry his momentum from this past season and tackle the challenges that come with being a starting pitcher.
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Oakland Athletics
Along with giving Puk a chance to join the starting rotation, the A's recently selected first baseman Ryan Noda from the Los Angeles Dodgers in MLB's Rule 5 Draft on Wednesday and signed versatile infielder Aledmys Díaz to a two-year contract.
Díaz and Noda will be two of many A's players fighting for a spot in the lineup as the team hopes to improve on their 2022 record next season.
