Oakland Athletics

Oakland A's catcher Manny Pina will begin the season on the injured list as he deals with left wrist inflammation. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: It's been a tough go this spring for the veteran backstop as Pina has been slowed by a calf injury and injured his wrist in a minor-league simulated game on March 13. It's a tough blow considering he had the same wrist surgery repaired last May and missed the remainder of the season while with the Braves. Pina's 2022 season was limited to just five games but he hit 13 homers as a platoon catcher with the Brewers in the 2021 campaign.

Oakland' A's pitcher Paul Blackburn will begin the season on the injured list as he's dealing with a fingernail avulsion on his right middle finger. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Blackburn had surgery on the same finger in the offseason but it was due to a torn flexor tendon sheath. He was originally healthy this spring and has struggled in two outings and a fingernail avulsion will now cost the 2022 All-Star the start of the 2022 campaign. Blackburn came out with a 4.27 ERA in the season's first half but scuffled to a 6.17 mark in the second half in part due to his finger issue. One of Shintaro Fujinami or James Kaprielian will be the club's Opening Day starter with Blackburn out of the mix.

Oakland A's pitcher James Kaprielian threw a 45-pitch simulated game Tuesday as he works his way back from shoulder surgery. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: A's skipper Mark Kotsay said the right-hander "looked great" in the outing that lasted three innings and 45 pitches. Kotsay added that the next step for Kaprielian could be a Cactus League game. The 29-year-old made 29 starts in 2022, working to a solid 4.23 ERA, albeit with a 17% K-rate that leaves something to be desired. Kaprielian will be hard-pressed to provide fantasy managers with much value on a poor A's club.

Oakland A's first baseman/outfielder Seth Brown is dealing with shoulder soreness and is listed as day-to-day. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Brown was a precautionary scratch from Tuesday's game against the D-backs with a "little bit" of soreness in his shoulder, according to manager Mark Kotsay. Brown is hitting just .214 without a homer in 14 spring at-bats to this point. The lefty-swinging Brown could see time at all three outfield spots along with first base and designated hitter duties coming off a season where he hit 25 home runs with 11 stolen bases and a .749 OPS across 150 games. Brown's positional versatility, power, and speed could make him a decent fantasy contributor in 2023.

Oakland A's pitcher Shintaro Fujinami threw three innings of one-run ball along with three strikeouts and two walks Tuesday versus the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Fantasy Impact: It's the second straight quality outing for the Japanese import as he now owns a 1.80 ERA across two appearances with six strikeouts across five innings in that time. The A's signed the 28-year-old to a one-year deal this winter as he will slide in alongside Paul Blackburn and James Kaprielian among the top three starters in the A's rotation in 2023.

Oakland A's pitcher Kirby Snead has been shut down from throwing after leaving a Feb. 25 Cactus League game with a left shoulder strain. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Snead will need to be discomfort-free before the club gives him the go-ahead to resume throwing. The 28-year-old southpaw got into 46 games with the A's last season, scuffling to a 5.84 ERA and 6.2% K-BB% in that time. Nonetheless, his solid minor-league track record will ensure him a spot in the A's bullpen when healthy.

Oakland A's outfielder Ramon Laureano went hitless in three at-bats Friday after missing three games with groin tightness.

Fantasy Impact: After a live batting practice session on Thursday, Laureano returned following a brief absence Friday. The club's starting center fielder endured a down 2022 season, hitting just .211 with a .663 OPS while appearing in only 94 games. Injuries have limited him in each of the last two seasons, but he's still homered 27 times with 23 stolen bases across 182 games in that time. His power/speed combination alongside a full-time role makes him a viable fantasy option deeper in drafts.

Oakland A's infield prospect Max Muncy recorded an RBI double Thursday versus the Chicago Cubs.

Fantasy Impact: The 20-year-old Muncy's ninth-inning RBI double accounted for all the scoring the A's managed Thursday in a 6-1 loss to the Cubs. After a solid Single-A showing where he hit 16 homers with a .799 OPS in 81 games, the then 19-year-old hit three homers with 13 steals alongside a .680 OPS across 42 games at the High-A level. Facing competition well older than him, Muncy will likely start the 2023 season back at High-A.

Oakland A's pitcher JP Sears surrendered three earned runs in a loss to the Chicago Cubs Thursday.

Fantasy Impact: The southpaw surrendered a Nick Madrigal RBI double in the first inning that scored a pair of runs as he allowed three earned runs in his three innings of work Thursday. On a positive note, he struck out four against zero walks in the outing. Despite his spring ERA standing at 9.64, Sears' 3.86 ERA across 70 innings last season should certainly earn him a spot as a swingman on the A's Opening Day roster.

Oakland A's prospect Zack Gelof has been invited to MLB spring training. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Gelof, the A's third-ranked prospect last season, spent the bulk of his 2022 season at Double-A where he hit .271 with 13 home runs, nine stolen bases, and a .794 OPS across 87 games played. He finished his season by crushing five homers in just nine Triple-A games. The 23-year-old is a solid bet to make his MLB debut at some point in 2023 but is likely headed back to Triple-A to start the season.

Oakland A's prospect Tyler Soderstrom has been invited to MLB spring training. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Soderstrom, the A's No.1 ranked prospect in 2022, split the 2022 season between three minor-league levels, reaching Triple-A for nine games to finish his season. The catcher/first baseman hit 29 home runs across 124 minor-league contests a season ago, finishing with a .297 average and .721 OPS in those nine Triple-A contests. He's a solid bet to make his MLB debut in 2023 but should start the season back at Triple-A.

The Miami Marlins have traded outfielder JJ Bleday to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for pitcher A.J. Puk. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The swap of former first-round picks is an interesting one but provides Bleday with a clearer route to playing time on a rebuilding A's club. The 25-year-old broke into the big leagues last season, appearing in 65 games while hitting just .167 with five homers and four steals across 238 trips to the plate. He projects to get the bulk of the left-field reps in Oakland while also seeing time in both center and right as well.

A.J. Puk has been acquired by the Miami Marlins from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for JJ Bleday. (Source: Jon Heyman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Puk lands in an intriguing spot with an opportunity to either start or bolster a Miami bullpen in 2023. The left-hander seemed to thrive as a relief option for the A’s in 2022, posting a 3.12 ERA and 3.30 K/BB ratio in 62 appearances last season.

Jesús Aguilar is expected to play a full-time everyday role for the Oakland A's in 2023. (Source: Martín Gallegos on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Aguilar signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the A's last week and it appears they intend to use him on an everyday basis between first base and designated hitter. Aguilar was similarly deployed last season between the Marlins and Orioles when he hit 16 home runs across 129 games in what marked a down year. The 32-year-old had previously homered 30 times across 182 games between the 2020 and 2021 campaigns with the Marlins. He could be a solid source of power if his playing time remains consistent.

Sean Murphy was traded from the Oakland Athletics to the Atlanta Braves on Monday. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Murphy is coming off one of his best seasons where he hit .250 with 18 home runs. It may not seem overly impressive for a catcher but playing home games in Oakland isn’t ideal for a hitter. Murphy hits the ball hard and plays elite defense. He also is capable of playing everyday behind the plate which boosts his fantasy value. This should be seen as a massive upgrade for Murphy from a fantasy perspective.

Jace Peterson has signed a two-year contract worth $9.5 million with the Oakland A’s. (Source: Jon Heyman on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Peterson moves to the American League after spending 2022 with the Milwaukee Brewers. The veteran utility man hit for a .236 average, eight home runs, 34 runs batted in, and tallied 12 stolen bases in 113 games.

Adrian Martinez lasted 4 1/3 innings on the mound for the Athletics Monday, allowing four runs on seven hits while also walking two and striking out five in the Athletics' 5-4 win over the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: Martinez has allowed three or more runs in five of his last six starts for the A's, posting a 28K/10BB ratio in that span. The 25-year-old right-hander carries a 1.53 WHIP and 6.24 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 12 starts (4-6) on the mound this season.

Domingo Acevedo tossed one scoreless inning in relief for the Athletics Monday, walking one and striking out one to pick up the win in the Athletics' 5-4 win over the Angels.

Fantasy Impact: Acevedo has held opponents scoreless in eight of his last 10 relief appearances for the A's, posting a 9K/4BB ratio and four saves in that span. The 28-year-old carries an 0.98 WHIP and 3.38 ERA with 58 strikeouts and four saves in 69 relief appearances this season.

Nick Allen went 1-for-5 Sunday, belting a two-run home run in the Athletics' 10-3 win over the Mariners.

Fantasy Impact: Allen has gotten hits in four of his last seven games for the A's, scoring two runs and driving in five runs in that span. The 23-year-old has not done much at the plate this season, hitting .208 with 30 runs scored, four home runs, and 18 runs batted in through 97 games this season.

Cristian Pache went 1-for-3 Sunday, hitting a two-run home run in the Athletics' 10-3 win over the Mariners.

Fantasy Impact: Pache has picked up hits in three of his last six games for the A's, scoring one run and driving in three runs in that span. The 23-year-old continues to struggle at the plate, hitting just .162 with 18 runs scored, three home runs, and 18 runs batted in through 88 games this season.