The Oakland A’s are getting closer to getting another piece of their lineup back in Stephen Piscotty.
According to Jessica Kleinschmidt, Piscotty is set to begin his rehab assignment on Saturday. He will head to Las Vegas, where he will end up either playing in right field or slot in as the Aviators’ designated hitter.
Stephen Piscotty closer to return to Oakland A’s
The A’s are likely going to be cautious with Piscotty. Calf injuries can be tricky to bounce back from and can have a recurrence at any time. Even if Piscotty is not going to be a part of the A’s future plans, they are going to want to be certain that he is completely healthy before he is activated.
Piscotty had been relatively solid when he has been on the diamond this year. However, he has just 14 games under his belt, hardly an amount that would lead one to think that his production is back. However, his .225/.3340/.325 batting line in 47 plate appearances has led to a 100 OPS+, making him exactly league average.
It is possible that Piscotty can be an interesting trade candidate. Teams are going to be looking for outfielders, and if he performs at a league average or better clip, he will get some attention. As the A’s would primarily be looking to get rid of as much of his contract as possible, Piscotty might not cost much in prospect capital.
But it all depends on the next few weeks. He needs to return from his rehab stint first, then show that he can be in the lineup every day. If that ends up being the case, he could be an under the radar trade target at the deadline.
Stephen Piscotty is set to begin his rehab assignment on Tuesday. He is getting closer to making his return to the Oakland A’s.