Michael

Taylor

Slater has been out since March 3rd with an oblique injury, so the 32-year-old only wound up missing two weeks. This would seem to be a good sign that Slater will be ready for Opening Day, and the White Sox need him with Andrew Benintendi (hand) potentially delayed to begin the year. Slater will push Travis Jankowski and Michael A. Taylor for the final starting spot alongside Luis Robert Jr. and Mike Tauchman.

“We are not going to have someone designated for that role,” Venable said at spring training on Thursday. “We are going to use it to get guys off their feet, to be able to match up defensively, and to kind of leave that open as a way to do all those things.” The White Sox don’t have a player who profiles best as a designated hitter but have plenty of outfielders, so this feels like a good way to ensure that four of Mike Tauchman, Andrew Benintendi, Luis Robert Jr., Austin Slater, and Michael A. Taylor can all get consistent at-bats.

Taylor, who was sent to Triple-A on Friday, is now being brought right back with Yoenis Cespedes landing on the disabled list. Taylor is 3-for-16 with seven strikeouts in his brief time with the Athletics this season. He’s likely to see a good amount of playing time in the Oakland outfield while Cespedes is out.

Reporters were told earlier that Taylor was being recalled to take the place of Yoenis Cespedes, who is injured, but infielder Josh Donaldson was promoted instead. Taylor will continue to play every day at Triple-A.

Collin Cowgill will take his place on the active roster. Taylor went 3-for-16 with seven strikeouts during his latest stint at the big league level.

Crisp has been nursing an inner ear issue for about a week. He hasn’t played since Monday, but the A’s will wait to see if he’s any better Friday before making the roster move official. Taylor is batting .366 with two homers, 17 RBI and four steals in 19 games for Triple-A Sacramento.

With Coco Crisp (ear) on the DL, Taylor is up and getting a look. The former Phillies prospect has some short-term AL-only appeal. He was batting 347/.390/.547 for Triple-A Sacramento this season.

And Coco Crisp (inner ear) is expected to be placed on the 15-day disabled list. Taylor is batting .347/.390/.547 with two homers, 18 RBI and six stolen bases in 23 games this season for Triple-A Sacramento and should be in line for a healthy dose of playing time. The 26-year-old outfielder may carry value in AL-only leagues.

Taylor is batting .347/.390/.547 with two homers, 18 RBI and six stolen bases in 23 games this season for Sacramento and should see some playing time in left field while Coco Crisp is out. He’s potentially worth an add in deeper AL-only leagues.

Derek Norris technically replaced Seth Smith (hamstring) on the active roster, but Taylor will give the A’s another option for the outfield. The former top prospect has played well in Triple-A this year, but he’s unlikely to get enough playing time to have any fantasy value.