Sean Manaea injury: 5 replacements A’s need to trade for to soothe the pain

As the Oakland A’s try to fill the void left by Sean Manaea, these five starters would be good late-August trade additions.

The Oakland A’s have been on a great run since the start of June, and after beating the Houston Astros Tuesday night they are just 1.5 games back of the lead in the AL West.

The starting rotation has been pieced together nicely (and with some luck) by Oakland, with Edwin Jackson, Trevor Cahill and Mike Fiers pitching well. But proverbial ace Sean Manaea is now out indefinitely with tendinitis in his throwing shoulder, and Brett Anderson is back on the disabled list with a forearm strain.

Prior to Manaea’s injury, in lieu of trading for another starter, Oakland was already considering using bullpen days to cover their starting rotation voids. But Manaea’s status may change that plan a bit, at least in terms of looking of outside help over these last few day of August.

The A’s front office is not afraid to go for it when the opportunity is out there, and this year should be no different. With that in mind, these five starting pitchers should be on the radar before the month ends on Friday.

5. Alex Cobb, Baltimore Orioles

Cobb is not having a great season for the Orioles, with a 4-15 record and a 5.00 ERA over 24 starts (138.2 innings). But he has a 2.95 ERA over his last 10 starts, while allowing three runs or less nine times and going at least six innings eight times in that span.

Good fortune has been a factor in Cobb’s recent run (.259 BABIP allowed since the start of July), which has covered for lackluster strikeout rate over that time frame (6.2 K/9).

Cobb has cleared revocable trade waivers, but being in the first year of a four-year,  $57 million contract is a major barrier to another team claiming him and trying to work out a deal with the Orioles. The A’s are always looking to make acquisitions on the cheap, but maybe they can talk Baltimore into including some cash in a deal for Cobb.