OAKLAND — The A’s will open the season with an expanded eight-man bullpen that includes highly regarded prospect Frankie Montas in it.
That means a three-man bench to begin the season, with outfielder Jaff Decker getting the tough news that he’s being sent down to Triple-A Nashville. Daniel Coulombe also was kept in the bullpen as a second left-hander to join Sean Doolittle.
With a young and inexperienced rotation, manager Bob Melvin said the emphasis was on beefing up the relief corps to cover innings and protect those young arms in the rotation.
“You never know what kind of innings you’re going to get out of the complete group,” Melvin said before Saturday’s Bay Bridge series finale.