The Chicago Cubs have acquired starting pitcher Jharel Cotton from the Oakland Athletics for cash considerations. Cotton is a former top prospect for the Athletics, but has struggled with injuries up to this point in his career. Cotton last pitched in the Majors in 2017. The righty returned to pitch in 2019 after recovering from Tommy John surgery and a hamstring injury. In 27 2/3 innings in Single-A and Triple-A, Cotton registered a 7.16 ERA in 18 games (three starts). Cotton is nothing more than a flyer for the Cubs, but has a good ceiling if he can put everything together. He can be avoided in all formats for now.
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jharel Cotton (elbow, hamstring) threw a 10-pitch session on flat ground on Wednesday. He is making his way back from Tommy John surgery, as well as surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right hamstring. He will next work in a bullpen session on Saturday. "His hamstring feels good enough to where he can throw with a little more intensity," manager Bob Melvin said. "Probably coming along a little quicker with the hamstring than at least I originally anticipated." Fantasy owners should take a wait-and-see approach with Cotton, as he isn't worth a roster spot at the moment.
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jharel Cotton (elbow, hamstring) underwent a hamstring debridement on Thursday and there is no timetable for his return. Cotton is also in the midst of his recovery from Tommy John surgery and was hoping to return to the team around midseason. Whenever he does return, he's expected to work out of the bullpen, which will make him useless from a fantasy standpoint.
Jharel Cotton Appears Ticketed For Bullpen Upon Return
Oakland Athletics pitcher Jharel Cotton (elbow) was able to throw two scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Class A Stockton in his rehab assignment, and it appears he'll continue to come out of the 'pen once he is able to return. "That's probably the way we're going to proceed with him this year is bullpen," manager Bob Melvin said. "So that's kind of the way we did it yesterday. If we're going to get something out of him innings-wise a year after Tommy John it's going to be difficult to get him 'X' number of starts. And he's pitched out of the bullpen before so I think we're leaning toward that at this point." That's bad news for Cotton's fantasy outlook down the stretch.
Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin said that starting pitcher Jharel Cotton (elbow) will likely pitch out of the bullpen whenever he returns to the big leagues. Cotton is recovering from Tommy John surgery and currently has a 6.43 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, one walk and eight strikeouts in two starts and one relief outing at High-A Stockton on his rehab assignment. The right-hander doesn't strike many out and won't be attractive in any fantasy league while coming out of the bullpen.
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jharel Cotton (elbow) will have his pitch count bumped up to 60 in his minor-league rehab start with Class A Stockton (Calif.) on Tuesday. Barring any setbacks he will then move his rehab to Triple-A Las Vegas after that. He continues to make progress in his return from Tommy John surgery. Manager Bob Melvin has said he will consider using injured guys like Cotton, AJ Puk (elbow), etc. in the bullpen when they return, as the team looks to limited their workload after returning from reconstructive elbow surgery. Fantasy owners will want to be very careful with Cotton and only add him as a wait-and-see option in AL-only leagues.
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher A.J. Puk (elbow) will throw another simulated game on Friday, while starter Jharel Cotton (elbow) will make another rehab start for High-A Stockton on Wednesday. Puk, the team's No. 2 prospect and No. 4 left-handed prospect in baseball, should be an option for the team's rotation in the second half of the year and should be stashed in deeper leagues and dynasty formats for his upside. Cotton, 27, will also become an option for Oakland's rotation this summer, although he doesn't miss nearly as many bats and will mostly be in play in AL-only leagues if he's starting games. He allowed two runs while striking out three and walking one in 2 2/3 innings in his first rehab start.
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jharel Cotton (elbow) will begin his rehab assignment with High-A Stockton on Friday. He figures to need a handful of starts before Oakland considers him for their rotation sometime in June. The 27-year-old right-hander didn't pitch at all in 2018 and went 9-10 with a 5.58 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 7.3 K/9 in 24 starts for the Athletics in 2017. You can take a wait-and-see approach with him in mixed leagues, but he could become a matchup-based play in deeper leagues if he's in the rotation this year for Oakland.
Jharel Cotton Throwing In Extended Spring Training
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Jharel Cotton (elbow), who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, has been throwing in extended spring training. Manager Bob Melvin thinks Cotton will get up to three innings in his next outing. The 27-year-old didn't pitch at all last season but could help the A's rotation out at some point this year. He went 9-10 with a 5.58 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 7.3 K/9 in 24 starts (129 innings). The right-hander will be an option in deeper leagues as a matchup-based streamer if he pitches out of the rotation later this season.
Oakland Athletics starting pitchers A.J. Puk (elbow) and Jharel Cotton (elbow), who are both rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, both took the mound for bullpen sessions in camp on Tuesday. They both threw at roughly 70 percent effort level as they gradually rebuild strength in their arms. Both pitchers are expected to be ready around midseason, barring setbacks. Puk, a left-hander, is the more promising arm for Oakland after he struck out 184 and walked 48 in 125 innings (24 starts) for two minor league levels in 2017. He'll be 24 years old in April and is ranked as the No. 42 prospect in all of baseball. He should already be on the radar of those in dynasty leagues.
