Oakland Athletics option group including Jordan Diaz, Lazaro Armenteros to Triple-A

The Oakland Athletics have optioned a group of five players, including infielder Jordan Diaz and outfielder Lazaro Armenteros, to Triple-A Las Vegas. They've also reassigned a group of seven additional players to minor league camp.

None of the moves are particularly surprising as the A's start to shape the roster as we get closer to opening day.

Brady Basso and Royber Salinas are both on the 40-man but neither were expected to open the year in Oakland. Neither has pitched above Double-A both have some sharpening to do when it comes to the pitch mix.

Joey Estes pitched in Oakland last year and should get the opportunity to pitch in the majors again in 2024. However, with the additions of Ross Stripling, Alex Wood, and Mitch Spence, Estes was always a long shot to start the year in Oakland. He'll be an option when the injury bug hits.

Diaz is probably the most interesting name on the list but since Nick Allen and Darell Hernaiz are in competition for the shortstop job and the newly acquired Abraham Toro is playing so well this spring, Diaz's options were running thin.

He should be one of the first guys to get a look if the Athletics need an infielder due to injury or performance issues. Armenteros was always going to start the year in the minors but his .595 OPS during spring training certainly didn't help his cast.

Lazarito has looked overmatched at the plate. That's fine, as he's still just 24 and has some room for development. The Athletics added him to the 40-man this winter to protect him from the Rule 5 draft back in December. He'll have more opportunities to break through and earn a spot in the majors.

Athletics reassign seven players to minor league camp

As for the list of guys heading to minor league camp, Brett Harris and Jack O'Loughlin are a couple guys to keep an eye on. Harris has put together a pair of strong seasons in the minors and is a dark horse to earn a late-season call up to Oakland.

O'Loughlin isn't on the 40-man but has enough experience in the minors that if the A's need a live arm, he could be near the top of the list of guys who'll get a call.

Yohel Pozo's move gives us slightly more clarity on the backup catcher competition. As of now, Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom are the only catchers on the 40-man. Veteran Carlos Perez is in camp and has familiarity with the pitching staff, having served as Langeliers' backup in 2023.

Prospect Kyle McCann has looked good in limited time this spring. He spent all of 2023 in Triple-A. It's unlikely that all three of McCann, Pozo, and Perez head to Triple-A. Someone will have to head down to Double-A but the A's won't want to block playing time for top prospect Daniel Susac.

It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the competition plays out. Soderstrom has looked rough this spring and at this point, his spot on the active roster seems like it could be in question. Whether David Forst has any interest in sending him back down to the minors remains to be seen.

With roughly three weeks remaining in the spring schedule, there's a lot left to play out. The A's will have some interesting decisions to make as we approach opening day.