A's could roll out six-man rotation to aid Shintaro Fujinami transition

The Athletics could deploy a six-man rotation this upcoming season, according to general manager David Forst. “We’ve mapped it out a lot of different ways,” Forst said. “Things that look like a six-man (rotation) or an occasional bullpen day or an occasional spot starter. There are a lot of ways to do it. I just don’t think we’ll know what they are until we get really into the season.”

At least one factor pushing the club in this direction is new face Shintaro Fujinami, who is in the process of transitioning from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball to the majors. Pitchers in the NPB generally take the ball once per week, as opposed to the five-day schedule typically implemented in North America.

Add to that, Fujinami has also been deployed as a reliever in recent years, meaning his typical workload has been less than that of a typical MLB starter. The A's also roster many younger pitchers who could run into limitations throughout the season, depending on how the campaign unfolds.

However the A’s decide to distribute their innings, it won’t be written in stone. “It will not be well-defined,” Forst said. “Whatever it is, we will not say Opening Night, ‘Here’s our six-man rotation, it’s staying like this.’ It will be flexible.”