Matt Olson has joined the A’s for the sixth time this season. The sixth time. Five cups of coffee, five demotions to Triple-A Nashville. The ultimate short-timer.
No longer.
No. 6 will be different, the A’s say. Sunday’s trade sending Yonder Alonso to Seattle cleared playing time at first base, and the plan is for Olson to be in the lineup when the opposition starts a right-handed pitcher.
“I think this time he realizes he actually gets to stick around for a while,” manager Bob Melvin said, “and he’ll maybe have to find something else besides a hotel.