Luis Medina, Alex Wood Having Season-Ending Surgeries
Oakland Athletics right-hander Luis Medina (elbow) will have season-ending Tommy John surgery, and left-hander Alex Wood (shoulder) will have a season-ending shoulder procedure. Medina was scheduled to get a second opinion on his sprained right elbow after the All-Star break, which has turned out to be a worst-case scenario for the hurler. The 25-year-old righty compiled a 2-4 record and a 5.18 ERA over eight starts for the A's this year before his season ended, and he'll miss a big chunk of 2025 as well. Wood hasn't been seen on the mound since May 12 due to left rotator cuff tendinitis, having been shut down from throwing since June. The 33-year-old southpaw went 1-3 with a 5.28 ERA covering nine starts in Oakland in 2024, and his recovery timeline will likely dictate the type of interest he'll draw in free agency this offseason.
Oakland Athletics left-hander Alex Wood (shoulder) received a platelet-rich plasma injection during the week of June 10 and remains shut down from throwing without a timetable to resume. Wood was moved to the 60-day injured list on June 9 after originally landing on the 15-day IL on May 13 with left rotator-cuff tendonitis. The 33-year-old veteran southpaw certainly isn't going to be ready to return to the A's rotation before the All-Star break and could even be out until some point in August or later. Wood didn't look too good before his injury in his first year in Oakland, either, going 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA (5.28 FIP) and 1.78 WHIP with 33 strikeouts and 19 walks in 39 1/3 innings over nine starts. Never much of a strikeout artist in his career, Wood had a career-low 17.3% strikeout rate in 2023 and sits at 17.7% this year.
After seeing team doctors in Oakland on May 14, Athletics left-hander Alex Wood (shoulder) was diagnosed with rotator-cuff tendonitis in his left shoulder and was expected to be shut down from throwing for at least 10 to 14 days from that date. Manager Mark Kotsay said on Tuesday that the plan is for Wood to begin playing catch on Saturday, June 1. His 15-day injured list placement is retroactive to May 13. The time off from throwing looks like it has been good for the 33-year-old veteran southpaw, but Wood still has a ways to go before he's pitching in live games and is on the cusp of a return from the IL. In the meantime, he belongs on the waiver wire in standard-sized mixed fantasy leagues. Before his shoulder injury, Wood had gone 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA and 1.78 WHIP with 33 strikeouts in 39 1/3 innings over his first nine starts with the A's.
The Oakland Athletics placed left-hander Alex Wood (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to May 13) with left rotator-cuff tendonitis and also optioned left-hander Brady Basso to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday. In corresponding moves, right-hander Aaron Brooks' contract was selected from the minors and left-hander Hogan Harris was recalled from Vegas. Infielder Darrell Hernaiz (ankle) was also moved to the 60-day IL. The 33-year-old Wood is eligible to return on May 28, but it's unlikely the veteran will make it back by then. His left shoulder was bothering him in his last start on Sunday against the Mariners, but Wood hasn't been very good in his nine starts in 2024, going 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA and 1.78 WHIP with 33 K's in 39 1/3 frames. It's unclear who will take his rotation spot, but Brooks is coming up for a spot start on Wednesday versus the Houston Astros.
Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay revealed after Sunday's loss to the Seattle Mariners that left-hander Alex Wood (shoulder) has been dealing with a shoulder issue for some time now, which appeared to worsen on Sunday. Wood's sinker averaged 88.6 mph, over two mph slower than his season average. He was pulled after just two innings in which the Mariners scored five runs and generated a ton of hard contact. Six of Seattle's 10 balls put in play against Wood registered an exit velocity of 100.2 mph or higher. Kotsay said the team will send Wood for further evaluations, and Wood is unsure if he will make his next scheduled start this weekend against the Kansas City Royals. If Wood were to miss time, the A's would likely turn to an in-house option with either Kyle Muller or Mitch Spence, both of whom are currently long relievers out of the bullpen.
Oakland A's left-hander Alex Wood will be in search of better results as he takes on the hosting Cleveland Guardians on Saturday. The club's Opening Day starter, Wood was tagged for six earned runs in that outing and has pitched to a 8.10 ERA through his first four starts of the season. He lasted just 4 1/3 frames his last time out, yielding four earned runs on seven hits, including a homer, with four walks and four strikeouts in a no-decision against the Washington Nationals. Wood has struggled with his control via an 11.8% BB% while his ground-ball rate has plummeted to just 32.7%. However, his results should improve once his bloated .442 BABIP normalizes.
The Oakland Athletics have named veteran left-hander Alex Wood as their Opening Day starter for March 28 versus the Cleveland Guardians. Wood doesn't have a ton of fantasy upside these days, especially while pitching for the lowly A's, but he'll make for a decent sleeper option in DFS right off the bat against Cleveland. The 33-year-old southpaw worked in a swing role for the San Francisco Giants in 2023 and went 5-5 with a 4.33 ERA (4.47 FIP) and 1.43 WHIP while walking 42 and striking out 74 in 97 2/3 innings over 29 appearances (12 starts). Durability and a lack of strikeouts make Wood one to avoid in mixed fantasy leagues, but the fact that he'll be a full-time start in Oakland this year will make him valuable in AL-only setups in 2024.
Oakland Athletics general manager David Forst said that left-hander Alex Wood and right-hander Ross Stripling are viewed as starters with spring training right around the corner. In addition to Wood and Stripling, Paul Blackburn and JP Sears are at the top of the team's rotation for 2024. The A's signed Wood to a one-year, $8.5 million deal last weekend. The 33-year-old veteran southpaw pitched in a hybrid role with the Giants in 2023 and had a 4.33 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 74 K's and 42 walks in 97 2/3 frames. Oakland's pitcher-friendly ballpark should help, but Wood has very limited fantasy appeal with diminished velocity and stuff. He'll only be useful in deep AL-only leagues. Stripling was acquired in a trade with the Giants on Friday. He disappointed in San Fran with a 5.36 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 70 K's and 16 innings as a swingman. Like Wood, Stripling has very little fantasy upside.
Free-agent left-hander Alex Wood agreed to an undisclosed deal with the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, pending a physical, according to sources familiar with the deal. The 33-year-old veteran southpaw should be a part of Oakland's starting rotation to open the 2024 campaign after he went 5-5 with a 4.33 ERA (4.47 FIP), 1.43 WHIP, 42 walks and 74 strikeouts in 97 2/3 innings over 29 appearances (12 starts) in his third year with the San Francisco Giants in 2023. Wood's days of being fantasy relevant are in the past, although he could have some deep-league streaming appeal in a pitcher-friendly ballpark in the right matchups now that he should be in a full-time starting role with his new squad. With his velocity down, Wood relies even more on deception from his funky delivery than ever before.
San Francisco Giants starter Alex Wood (back) has progressed well in his recovery from a lower back strain, throwing a 53-pitch rehab outing with Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday. MLB.com reports that the 32-year-old is scheduled for a bullpen session later this week, and if everything goes to plan, he could rejoin the club for their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wood's been on the injured list twice this year already, and his latest ailment forced him to the IL on June 4. Across 30 inning and seven starts in 2023, the former second-round pick owns a 4.80 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, and 21.4% strikeout rate. Fantasy managers should feel comfortable dropping Wood in most formats, especially given his injury history.