Rooker (forearm) is batting second as the Athletics' DH in Sunday's Cactus League contest against Colorado.
Rooker underwent right forearm extensor surgery last October, but the expectation was always that he'd be healthy by the start of spring training. That appears to be the case given the 30-year-old's presence in the lineup for the Athletics' second game of the exhibition slate. Rooker is slated to bat near the top of the team's order in 2025 after exploding for a career-best 39 home runs, 112 RBI, 82 runs and 11 stolen bases while posting a .927 OPS last year.
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Athletics' Miguel Andujar: In Sunday's spring lineup
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Andujar (abdomen) is playing left field and batting sixth in Sunday's Cactus League contest against Colorado.
Andujar ended last season on the 60-day IL due to an issue that required core muscle surgery. He appears to be fully recovered given his ability to hit and play the field Sunday. Andujar hit well in his first season with the Athletics last year, posting a .285/.320/.377 slash line with four homers and three stolen bases over 319 plate appearances, and he's slated to get regular at-bats in left field during the 2025 campaign.
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Athletics' Esteury Ruiz: Playing in spring opener
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Ruiz (knee/wrist) is starting in left field and batting sixth in the Athletics' first game of spring training Saturday versus San Diego.
Ruiz ended last season on the 60-day IL due to a left wrist strain, and he also underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in late September. The speedy outfielder appears to have recovered from both issues during the offseason and will look to get back on track in 2025 after playing in only 45 combined contests between the majors and minors last year. Ruiz may need to have a strong camp in order to make the Athletics' Opening Day roster.
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Athletics' Dylan Floro: Latches on with Sacramento
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The Athletics signed Floro to a minor-league contract Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Floro had a 2.06 ERA and 40:13 K:BB over 52.1 innings for Washington last season before struggling after a trade to Arizona, where he held a 9.37 ERA in 15 appearances before being released. The veteran reliever could fill a middle-relief role with the A's.
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Athletics' Jeffrey Springs: No workload restrictions
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Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said recently that Springs (elbow) had a "full, healthy offseason," and he does not expect the lefty's workload to be limited in 2025, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Springs threw only 16 innings in 2023 before needing Tommy John surgery and totaled 65 frames in 2024 before being shut down late in the year with left elbow fatigue. However, he was able to go through his normal offseason throwing program and will be nearly two full years removed from surgery on Opening Day. While Kotsay probably won't ride Springs too hard early in the season, he expects the southpaw to make "30-plus starts."
The Athletics placed Medina (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Monday.
Medina was moved to the 60-day injured list to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for infielder Luis Urias, who signed a one-year deal with the club. The transaction won't have any affect on Medina's timeline for a return, as the right-hander is likely to miss most or all of the 2025 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last August.
Urias signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Athletics on Monday.
Urias was present at the Athletics' spring training facility in Arizona on Monday and will likely be given the chance to compete with Gio Urshela for the starting job at third base. The 27-year-old slashed only .191/.303/.394 in 41 games with Seattle last season but clubbed 39 home runs for the Brewers from 2021 to 2022.
McCann cleared waivers Wednesday and was sent outright to Triple-A Las Vegas, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.
After spending all of last season in the big leagues as Shea Langeliers' backup, McCann will now be relegated to minor-league depth in favor of Jhonny Pereda. McCann's last Triple-A season saw him slash .270/.351/.474 with 17 homers and 57 RBI, and he could earn his way back into the majors with similar production in 2025.
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Athletics' Anthony Maldonado: Remaining in organization
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Maldonado cleared waivers Wednesday and was sent outright to Triple-A Las Vegas, Jason Burke of SI.com reports
After being DFA'd on Thursday to make room for Elvis Alvarado, Maldonado will officially stick around in the Athletics' farm system as organizational depth. The 26-year-old spent most of his time with the Marlins' Triple-A affiliate last season, turning in a 4.66 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across 46.1 innings.
The Athletics designated McCann for assignment Thursday.
The A's elected to kick McCann off their 40-man roster after acquiring fellow catcher Jhonny Pereda from the Marlins on Thursday. McCann appeared in 54 games last season, slashing .236/.318/.371 with 15 RBI across 157 plate appearances, and he could be picked up by another club in need of depth behind the plate.
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Athletics' Jhonny Pereda: Lands with A's
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The Marlins traded Pereda to the Athletics on Thursday in exchange for cash.
Pereda was DFA'd by Miami on Tuesday, but his move to the A's will ensure that he remains on a 40-man roster for the 2025 campaign. The 28-year-old backstop managed just a .481 OPS in 40 big-league plate appearances last season, though he slashed .302/.407/.444 with 16 RBI in Triple-A. Kyle McCann was designated for assignment in a corresponding move, improving Pereda's chances at making the Athletics' Opening Day roster as Shea Langeliers' backup.
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Athletics' Anthony Maldonado: Scrubbed from 40-man roster
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The Athletics designated Maldonado for assignment Thursday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Elvis Alvarado, who was claimed off waivers Thursday. Maldonado was a waiver claim himself earlier this offseason and will now go through that process again. He held a 5.68 ERA and 11:7 K:BB over 19 innings with the Marlins in 2024.
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Athletics' Elvis Alvarado: Claimed by A's
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The Athletics claimed Alvarado off waivers from the Pirates on Thursday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Alvarado was designated for assignment by the Pirates earlier this week and will now join a new 40-man roster. The 25-year-old has not appeared in a major-league game, most recently posting a 2.79 ERA and 71:38 K:BB over 48.1 innings at Triple-A Jacksonville in the Marlins organization in 2024.
