MESA, Ariz. -- Operating with an unproven starting staff and lacking the suitable resources to add a difference-maker to the mix, the A's introduced their backup plan on Monday.
Catcher Jonathan Lucroy, a two-time All-Star with eight years of big league time clocked, will be tasked with handling the club's young group of pitchers. He hopes to simultaneously outdo a disappointing 2017 showing, which he deemed an "aberration."
"He certainly has a lot of experience behind the plate, and I think that's good, especially for our young starting staff," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "No knock on the other guys, but experience is experience.