Rosenthal to undergo hip surgery, will miss entire A's season

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The Athletics got tough news in Houston on Wednesday. 

Veteran reliever Trevor Rosenthal will undergo hip surgery next Tuesday to repair a torn labrum and will miss the entire 2021 MLB season, manager Bob Melvin told reporters before the team's game against the Astros. 

Rosenthal signed a one-year, $11 million contract last winter, but he will not pitch a single inning for the A’s this year. 

The 31-year-old started the season on the Injured List after being diagnosed with severe neurovascular compression and underwent surgery in April. 

This is awful news for the Oakland bullpen, which already has been hit hard with injuries and lack of production. Entering Wednesday, the team’s relievers have a collective 4.13 ERA, a stark difference from last season. 

Prior to 2021, Rosenthal was sensational across two teams (Kansas City Royals and San Diego Padres) boasting a 1.90 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings. 

For now, Jake Diekman and Lou Trivino have been swapping closer role responsibilities -- the role Rosenthal was supposed to take over when A’s signed him in February.

Jesús Luzardo recently was demoted to Triple-A after posting a 6.87 ERA in the big leagues, and while he originally was stretched out to be a starter, he does have some relief innings under his belt. For now, Luzardo with Las Vegas has a 10.38 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings. 

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However, some reinforcements could be coming in. A’s general manager David Forst told NBC Sports California recently that the team will seek bullpen arms ahead of the July 30 MLB trade deadline, but so will all of the other teams vying for playoff spots.

The A's were hoping Rosenthal could be a productive late-season addition. Now they have to proceed knowing he can't help them at all this year, and they will try to fill the void through a trade-deadline acquisition.

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