Oakland Athletics: Josh Reddick Suffers Fractured Thumb
By Tj Porreca
The Oakland Athletics injury woes continue, as Josh Reddick will miss time with a broken thumb.
Injuries have been piling up for the Oakland Athletics as of late, and on Thursday night, right fielder Josh Reddick injured his thumb while stealing second base. Reddick planned to stay in the game, but when he tried to put his glove on in the top half of the following inning, his thumb didn’t respond well.
“It actually felt initially better after they came out to look at it, but then I tried to put my glove on and squeeze it and it didn’t happen,” Reddick said, via MLB.com.
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The diagnosis after examinations was a fractured left thumb for Reddick. Reddick himself called it a “slight fracture,” and the early timetable suggests he’ll miss four to six weeks. However, Reddick will see a hand specialist, and that meeting should shed more light on the severity of the injury, and subsequently, provide a more accurate timetable.
The injury comes at a tough time for both Reddick and the A’s. Reddick was on pace to have a nice season — in what is an important season for him — and the Athletics, while currently sitting in fourth place in the AL West, are only 5 games back of the first place Seattle Mariners.
Reddick is slashing .322/.394/.466 on the season, and was providing his usual above-average defense in right field. Reddick, 29, is set to be a free agent after the 2016 season, and could become a plausible trade candidate if the Athletics are out of contention as the July 31 trade deadline draws nearer. This injury could foil the plans of teams who potentially targeted Reddick in a trade, though. If he’s out closer to four weeks, it’s certainly possible that he can return and prove he’s healthy before the deadline. If Reddick were to miss six weeks, or perhaps even more, his trade value becomes less clear.
Reddick becomes the 12th player Oakland has placed on the disabled list. In the mean time, the Athletics will look to their farm system to replace Reddick. Jane Lee of MLB.com reports Oakland will call up outfielder Jake Smolinksi from Triple-A Nashville.
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In 39 games at Nashville this season, Smolinski is slashing .239/.331/.368. Smolinski last played in the Major Leagues in 2015, appearing in 41 games with the Athletics. He slashed .226/.288/.462, however he spent most of his time in left field, starting 25 games, compared to just 7 starts in right field last season.