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Mere hours prior to their Opening Day game Thursday, the Oakland Athletics placed closer Trevor Rosenthal on the 10-day injured list with shoulder inflammation.
Today, the A's selected Reymin Guduan and Jed Lowrie from Las Vegas, optioned Daulton Jefferies and A.J. Puk to their alternate site, placed Mike Fiers and Trevor Rosenthal on the 10-day IL and designated Skye Bolt for assignment.
— AthleticsPR (@AthleticsPR) April 1, 2021
Rosenthal got off to a late start in spring training because of a strained groin, but he debuted on March 17 and was fully expected to begin this season as Oakland’s ninth-inning man. He signed a one-year deal with the A’s in February.
With Rosenthal out, the role of closer probably falls to left-hander Jake Diekman. He had a 0.42 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 21.1 innings last year. He should be a preferred pickup in all fantasy leagues. However, be aware that Sergio Romo, who has 134 career saves, could also be a factor in this pen.
Rosenthal has rehabilitated his career. He missed all of 2018 after undergoing Tommy John surgery the previous year and returned to post an unsightly 13.50 ERA across 15.1 innings in 2019. But during the 2020 regular season, he recorded a 1.90 earned run average and saved 11 of 12 games split between the Kansas City Royals and the San Diego Padres.
Even with his groin injury from last month, Rosenthal should have been considered a top-10 closer in fantasy drafts. There is no timetable for his return right now.