Oakland A’s demote Dan Straily; place Ryan Cook on disabled list
By Brad Rowland
The Oakland A’s have been able to accumulate an impressive, AL West-leading record at the start of the 2014 season, but they have managed to accomplish that without a good start from right-hander Dan Straily. On Friday, they took an interesting step in demoting Straily to triple-A Sacramento, as well as placing reliever Ryan Cook on the 15-day disabled list.
#Athletics option Dan Straily to Sacramento, place Ryan Cook on the DL and recall Fernando Rodriguez and Joe Savery from Sacramento.
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) May 9, 2014
Cook has been dealing with a well-documented forearm issue for some time now, so that move makes all the sense in the world, but in the case of Staily, it is very surprising. The 25-year-old was a fashionable “sleeper” before the start of the season, and while he has been subpar in his first seven starts (4.93 ERA, 3.52 BB/9), Straily has been anything but a disaster in the early going.
However, there is a case to be made that he needs some additional seasoning, especially considering the fact that he is currently “leading” the Major Leagues in home runs allowed with nine. The A’s have plenty of pitching depth in the high minors (even with their injury woes), and Straily is a guy that they will need down the stretch of what appears to be a playoff run.