MESA, Ariz. -- A's starter Jharel Cotton will seek a second opinion after receiving unfavorable news on his sore right elbow.
Cotton has been diagnosed with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament, which signifies a tear of the UCL. That's typically a precursor to Tommy John surgery, which would sideline Cotton, who also has a strained flexor muscle, for more than a year.
The A's hold out hope that Cotton will be back in action sooner than that, but it's reasonable to assume he'll at least be out several months.