Jarrod Parker was the centerpiece of the deal which sent Trevor Cahill to the Diamondbacks in December, but he showed this afternoon that he may need a little more seasoning.
Parker issued seven walks over just 3 2/3 innings against Arizona, after which he was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento. The 23-year-old right-hander undoubtedly had some nerves facing his former team, but he walked three batters in each of his previous two outings and averaged 3.8 BB/9 last season at Double-A after missing the entire 2010 season following Tommy John surgery.
Even though Parker was sent down, Athletics manager Bob Melvin told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that he hasn’t necessarily ruled him out for the final spot in the starting rotation. The team won’t need a fifth starter for the first time until April 17 due to scheduled off-days, so the plan calls for him to stay behind and work in Arizona for now.
As of now, Tommy Milone, Tyson Ross and Graham Godfrey figure to follow Brandon McCarthy and Bartolo Colon in Oakland’s starting rotation.