Oakland A’s outfielder Jake Smolinski will have shoulder surgery on Friday, reports Susan Slusser of the S.F. Chronicle. Slusser goes on to mention that there is “no timetable for Smolinski’s return.”
Smolinski was competing for a role in Oakland’s thin outfield. The A’s have Khris and Rajai Davis holding down two full-time spots, but RF Matt Joyce will need a right-handed platoon partner to pair with, and Smolinski was a top candidate for that job due to his mammoth splits against lefty pitching.
With Smolinski out of the picture, Mark Canha figures to be a lock now for that fourth-outfielder platoon position, while Slusser notes that minor league free agent signings Alejandro De Aza and Jaff Decker have a bead on any final fifth outfield spot that might be awarded.