MESA, Ariz. — The competition for the A’s fifth starter spot will be an interesting one, with several candidates offering their own unique stories.
That’s likely to be the only suspense regarding Oakland’s rotation, as manager Bob Melvin strongly hinted that Jharel Cotton will be his No. 4 starter.
“On the talent level and what we saw last year, there’s probably a leg up,” Melvin said following Thursday’s workout. “We want him to go out there and fight for a job, but he definitely impressed us last year.”
Cotton posted a 2.15 ERA and an excellent 0.