MESA, Ariz. - Only three pitchers were in action for Oakland on Friday, but two of them are strong candidates for the rotation and the other is expected to be part of many future rotations.
Daniel Mengden and Paul Blackburn, who both put together some excellent stretches for the A’s last year in injury-shortened seasons, turned in nice bullpen sessions, and 2016 second-round pick Logan Shore was also on the mound. Earlier in the day, they and the rest of the team’s pitchers listened to A’s great Dave Stewart speak for 40 minutes.
“They were into it,” manager Bob Melvin said.