A’s roster moves: Langeliers activated, Thomas selected, Sterner recalled

Down go Bleday, MacIver, and Ferguson

The A’s announced a series of roster moves on Monday afternoon in the lead up to their series with the Tampa Bay Rays, activating starting catcher Shea Langeliers off the IL, recalling right-handed reliever Justin Sterner from Triple-A, and selecting the contract of prized prospect Colby Thomas from the Aviators:

To make room for those three players, outfielder JJ Bleday, backup catcher Willie MacIver, and right-handed reliever Tyler Ferguson were all demoted to Triple-A.

The big news is the return of Langeliers to the squad. The backstop will have ended up missing just over three weeks due to that strained oblique, but he’s completed his rehab assignment and is ready to get back behind the plate. He only played in three rehab games, with two starts behind the plate during which he went 8-for-13 with a home run. At the time he went down to injury he was slashing .237/.300/.430 with 10 home runs and should provide a boost to the offense right before starting this difficult Rays series.

That’s not the only major news regarding the A’s today. The promotion of Thomas has finally arrived and the youth movement continues. Universally regarded as one of the top young outfielders in the farm system, Thomas was hitting .297/.365/.542 with 17 home runs for the Aviators. There isn’t an immediate open spot for the former third-round pick but as a right-handed hitter he could be a platoon partner for either lefty batters Lawrence Butler or Tyler Soderstrom.

Sterner also returns to the club after spending the majority of the month of June with the Aviators. He only appeared in three games in Triple-A, allowing three runs in three innings. After starting the season out strong things have gone off the rails for him in recent weeks but the A’s are desperate for relievers and hopefully Sterner figured something out while away from the big league squad. He’ll likely slide back into a middle relief role with the club until he earns more high-leverage opportunities.

The demotion of Bleday is the second time this year he’s been sent to Triple-A. After having a big season at the plate last year he entered this season with raised expectations. Starting out the year in the heart of the lineup, he slowly fell down the order before losing playing time, and eventually even his roster spot. His second stint with the club didn’t yield any better results during sporadic play, but he’ll get more at-bats down in Vegas, where hopefully he can rediscover his magic from last year. His time with the organization may be coming to an end sooner than later if he doesn’t figure things out in the batters box.

MacIver will join Bleday in heading to Vegas. The rookie backstop was always a depth option but due to the Langeliers injury was forced into more playing time with the big league team. He’s hit .245/.288/.449 with two home runs in his first taste of the big leagues, and he’ll now return to Triple-A and stay ready in case of an injury to either Langeliers or Austin Wynns.

And finally, Stener is taking the placed of Ferguson in the ‘pen. It’s been a disappointing follow up campaign for the right-handed Ferguson after a moderately successful season last year. He’s posted a very high 6.69 ERA this year in his sophomore season, as much of a problem for the relief unit than anyone else. With the shape of the bullpen it certainly won’t be the last time we see Ferguson with the big league club but hopefully when he comes back he looks closer to last year’s pitcher than this version of him. Time will tell.