The Oakland A’s did a great job at the trade deadline, but there was one area that is still lacking. Despite their upgrades, they do not have a backup plan for Elvis Andrus. While Andrus has been healthy, they still need an option in case something happens.
As it turns out, Andrus will be away from the team for the next few days. He is being placed on the paternity list on Saturday as he and his wife welcome their third child.
Elvis Andrus will be away from the A’s starting tomorrow to be with his wife for the birth of their third child. He says they’re having a boy.
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) August 13, 2021
Elvis Andrus’ absence is a chance for Nick Allen
While this brief absence likely means that Vimael Machin will be back with the A’s once more, it is an opportunity for someone else. This would be the perfect moment to give Nick Allen a look in the majors, allowing him to get his feet wet and have a sense of what being a major league player is about.
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As it is, there is not a question of whether or not Allen will receive a look at the major league level – it is just a matter of when. He has been one of the A’s more impressive prospects this season, using both the Olympic Qualifying Round and the summer games as his personal springboard into the consciousness of the baseball universe.
Between his time on Team USA, Allen had impressed in Double-A. He had produced a .319/.374/.471 batting line in his 229 plate appearances, hitting six homers and nine doubles while stealing eight bases. That production, coupled with his excellent showing in the Olympics, has led to his promotion to Triple-A.
Although he has not spent much time at that level, this is the perfect chance for Allen to get a taste of the majors. He would be up for a few games, getting a sense of what life in the majors is like. The A’s would also have an opportunity to see what they have, potentially shaping their plans for the offseason.
Elvis Andrus is going to be away from the Oakland A’s for a few days. This is a great time for Nick Allen to get the call and make his debut.