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Athletics make a roster shuffle before Reds series, including Ginn activation and Bowden DFA
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Sports/The Apex Times/Aug 4, 5:00 PM EDT

Athletics make a roster shuffle before Reds series, including Ginn activation and Bowden DFA

Oakland moved several players in and out of its active roster on Tuesday afternoon, placing first baseman Nick Kurtz and left-hander Jeffrey Springs on the injured list and activating J.T. Ginn. The club also designated Ben Bowden for assignment and saw left-hander Connor Thomas claimed off waivers.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Athletics’ roster churn accelerated Tuesday afternoon as they prepared to open a series with the Cincinnati Reds. According to Yahoo Sports, Oakland placed first baseman Nick Kurtz and left-handed starter Jeffrey Springs on the injured list, while activating infielder Max Muncy and right-hander J.T. Ginn.

The transaction sequence also included a removal and addition on the pitching side. Yahoo Sports reported that Oakland designated left-hander Ben Bowden for assignment. In a related move, the club also had fellow lefty Connor Thomas claimed off waivers, meaning Oakland no longer retains Thomas on its 40-man roster.

For the players coming back, J.T. Ginn’s activation is the clearest timeline change. Yahoo Sports said Ginn is returning after a stint on the injured list tied to a blister on his pitching hand. With Ginn back on the active roster, the Athletics gain a recalled right-hander who can immediately slot into the rotation or bullpen usage depending on the team’s game-to-game planning for the Reds series.

On the position-player side, Muncy’s return gives Oakland a fresh active-roster option in the infield. Yahoo Sports described Muncy as coming off an injured list and taking a roster spot in place of the players moved to the injured list. The move suggests the Athletics want additional infield depth right as the schedule shifts toward Cincinnati.

Nick Kurtz’s placement on the injured list and Jeffrey Springs’ move to the same designation both carry immediate team-management implications. When an AL team loses a first baseman and a starting left-hander to the IL in the same transaction window, it tends to force quicker internal adjustments, including how the club balances lineup matchups and how it covers early innings while rotation spots are rearranged.

The Athletics’ Tuesday set of roster moves also reflects how quickly MLB clubs must respond when multiple players are unavailable at once. While the specific injury details for Kurtz and Springs were not included in the Yahoo Sports report, the combined pattern indicates Oakland was prioritizing roster flexibility for the days immediately ahead of the Reds series.

Going forward, the most important question for Oakland is how the active roster will look after the team absorbs the IL placements and the Bowden DFA process. With Ginn and Muncy active and the bullpen and rotation options reshaped by Thomas leaving, Oakland’s next few games against Cincinnati should offer the clearest answer about how quickly the Athletics can stabilize their on-field roles.

Why It Matters

  • Adding Ginn and Muncy to the active roster can change how Oakland structures both its pitching plans and everyday lineup depth immediately for the Reds series.
  • Placing Kurtz and Springs on the IL at the same time forces the Athletics to reshuffle roles, which can affect rotation sequencing and defensive coverage at first base.
  • The Ben Bowden DFA and Connor Thomas waiver claim reduce Oakland’s control over its left-handed pitching depth, potentially accelerating reliance on other internal arms.
  • How quickly Ginn fits back into the pitching workload, particularly after a blister-related IL stint, could influence game management over the next several days.

Sources

Key Facts

  • Oakland placed first baseman Nick Kurtz on the injured list and also put left-hander Jeffrey Springs on the injured list.
  • The Athletics activated infielder Max Muncy and right-hander J.T. Ginn to the active roster.
  • Oakland designated left-hander Ben Bowden for assignment.
  • Left-hander Connor Thomas was claimed off waivers by another club.
  • J.T. Ginn’s activation followed an injured list stint related to a blister on his pitching hand.
  • The moves were made ahead of Oakland’s series with the Cincinnati Reds.