Sonny Gray is back

Oakland has activated their ace from the disabled list and he’ll start Tuesday against the Twins.

Oakland ace Sonny Gray was activated from the disabled list this afternoon and will start on Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins. Gray has been sidelined all year with a lat strain (similar to the injury that took down Noah Syndergaard last night) and will be trying to bounce back from a disappointing 2016 that saw him post a 5.69 ERA and struggle with a forearm injury. He was hurt in early March, and it’s taken almost exactly two months for him to work his way back. In two rehab starts, he gave up just three hits in 11 innings, while walking none and striking out 13.

If he’s healthy and effective, Gray could be one of the biggest prizes at the trade deadline this year, with ace-caliber stuff and a 2.88 ERA from 2013-2015. The A’s have had a slow 11-14 start, he has three more seasons of what should be expensive arbitration years, and he is one of the few really valuable pieces Billy Beane and David Forst have to deal. Indeed, the fact that the A’s don’t have to move him at this point could be a major factor in their decision to send him to a contender, as the package they’d have to receive in return would need to be very significant.

To open up a spot on their roster, the A’s have optioned Ryan LaMarre back to triple-A Nashville, where he’ll serve as organizational depth.