OAKLAND, CA - JULY 18: A.J. Puk #31 of the Oakland Athletics pitches during summer workouts at RingCentral Coliseum on July 18, 2020 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)
The Oakland A’s plans this offseason will hinge upon whether or not A.J. Puk is healthy, and if he can return to the starting rotation.
In theory, the Oakland A’s starting rotation is set for the 2021 season. A.J. Puk is penciled in as their fifth starter, provided that his troublesome shoulder is healthy. Of course, the same could have been said at the start of the 2020 season, as Puk had been expected to pair with fellow prospect Jesus Luzardo to fill out the A’s rotation.