OAKLAND — A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell ended last season as the starter. He entered spring training as the starter. He expected to begin 2018 as the starter. But one move changed everything.
When the A’s signed veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy as a free agent on March 12, Maxwell was relegated to the backup role, getting a chance to play just once or twice per week.
Maxwell, who was in the starting lineup for just the second time this season in Wednesday night’s game against the Rangers, is using Lucroy’s presence as an opportunity to serve as a sort of understudy to the two-time All-Star.