What Is Craig Gentry’s Future With The Oakland Athletics?

The Oakland Athletics’ roster has changed many times throughout the course of this season. One major change was the demotion of outfielder Craig Gentry. Gentry was a big part of the 2014 team, but he has resided in Triple-A for most of this year.

Gentry was first sent to Triple-A Nashville in early May when Coco Crisp returned from the disabled list for the first time. He was then recalled when Ike Davis went on the DL. However, once Ben Zobrist returned from his knee surgery, Gentry was sent back to Nashville and has been there ever since.

It is true that Gentry was sent to Triple-A because of his horrible batting average. During his time in the MLB this season, he batted a measly 0.079. Additionally, in the first 15 games he played, Gentry only had two hits. It was clear he needed some time in Nashville to work on his offense.

Even though Gentry’s offense has improved and he is currently batting .249 with a .644 OPS with the Nashville Sounds, he has yet to be called back to the Majors. This is mostly due to the fact that there is no room for him at the moment. The Athletics have a surplus of outfielders including Crisp, Sam Fuld, Jake Smolinski, Billy Burns, Mark Canha, and Josh Reddick. Even with Crisp not playing in every game due to his constant neck injury, the outfielders on the current roster barely get enough playing time. The A’s are even putting Smolinski at first base just to get him in the lineup even though he has barely played in the position in his entire baseball career. There is just no room for Gentry.

Gentry’s future with the Oakland Athletics is looking bleak. With Smolinski, Burns, and Canha under club control until 2021, it seems as though they are the A’s future outfielders especially with the talent they have been demonstrating recently. Additionally, neither Crisp, Fuld or Reddick are free agents after this 2015 season and it is likely they will stick around unless the A’s see a good trade opportunity involving one of these players. With no immediate openings for Gentry on the active roster in the next year, it looks like he may be spending 2016 in Triple-A.

Unless Gentry dramatically improves his offense to match his stellar defensive skills, A’s fans will probably not see Gentry any time soon. The rest of the Athletics’ outfielders, besides Crisp, are just better and more well rounded than Gentry. Since he is not a free agent until 2017, Gentry has to hope that the Athletics trade him to a team that needs a defensive star in right or center field in order for him to get more playing time in the Major Leagues. Gentry has some great defensive skills and does not deserve to spend the next season in Triple-A. Unfortunately, there is just no room for him on the Oakland Athletics’ roster any longer.

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