Craig Gentry, Ryan Cook Will Open Season On DL For Oakland Athletics

Sep 5, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Ryan Cook (48) pitches the ball against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Houston Astros defeated the Oakland Athletics 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Outfielder Craig Gentry and right-handed reliever Ryan Cook will start the season on the disabled list, according to MLB.com.

Because neither Gentry nor Cook have played this spring, their DL assignment can be backdated to March 21, making them eligible to be reinstated on April 4, less than a week into the regular season.

Gentry, acquired in a December trade with the Rangers to be the fourth outfielder, has not played this spring as he has worked his way back from a lower back strain sustained early in the spring. That likely means Sam Fuld will make the Opening Day roster after impressing the A’s brass with his defense at all three positions in the outfield.

That makes it tough for Michael Taylor, who has hit .308 with three homers in 52 at-bats this spring. Taylor is out of options and would have to clear waivers to be returned to Triple-A Sacramento. Oakland may look to trade him rather than lose him on a waiver claim.

Cook, meanwhile, has been working his way back from a sore shoulder and has also not pitched in any Cactus League games this spring.

Cook’s absence could open a spot for lefty Joe Savery in the bullpen to open the season.

Right-hander Jarrod Parker was placed on the 60-day disabled list last week and will miss the season after his second Tommy John procedure in five years. Right-hander A.J. Griffin will open the year on the DL with a forearm strain and right-hander Fernando Rodriguez, still recovering from Tommy John surgery last spring, will also be on the DL to start the season.

Gentry, 30, came to the A’s last December along with right-hander Josh Lindblom in exchange former top prospect Michael Choice and minor leaguer Chris Bostick. Gentry hit .280/.373/.386 in 106 games for Texas last season, with 39 runs, 12 doubles, four triples, two homers, 22 RBI and 24 stolen bases. He was a 10th-round pick of the Rangers out of the University of Arkansas in 2006.

Fuld, 32, signed a minor-league contract with the A’s on Feb. 4 after spending the last three seasons with Tampa Bay. In 119 games last season, Fuld hit .199/.270/.267 with 25 runs, three triples, two home runs, 17 RBI and eight steals. He was a 10th-round pick by the Cubs out of Stanford in 2004 and was traded to the Rays in January 2011 in the deal that sent Matt Garza to Chicago.

Cook, 26, was an All-Star as a rookie with the A’s in 2012 and spent last season working in a setup role for former closer Grant Balfour. He had a 2.54 ERA and 1.292 WHIP in 67.1 innings last season, striking out 67 and earning two saves in 71 appearances. Cook was a 27th-round pick of the Diamondbacks out of USC in 2008 and came to the A’s along with Parker in the deal that sent Trevor Cahill and Craig Breslow to Arizona.

Savery, 28, split last season between Triple-A Lehigh Valley and the Phillies. He had a 3.15 ERA and 1.300 WHIP in 20 innings for Philadelphia, striking out 14 in 18 appearances. He was claimed off waivers by the A’s on Feb. 17. Savery was the 19th overall pick by the Phillies in 2007 out of Rice University.

Taylor, 28, has struggled to catch on with the A’s, playing in just 26 games over parts of three seasons. Last year in nine games, he was just 1-for-23. At Triple-A Sacramento, Taylor hit .281/.360/.474 in 112 games, with 54 runs, 25 doubles, 18 homers and 85 RBI. In four seasons with the River Cats (2010-13), Taylor has 50 homers and 53 stolen bases. He was a fifth-round pick of the Phillies out of Stanford in 2007 and was traded twice on the same day in 2009, going to Toronto in the deal that sent Roy Halladay to Philadelphia and later coming to the A’s in exchange for infielder Brett Wallace.