"I’m P*ssed About It!": A's Player Furious About Cut In Playing Time

At the age of 33, Elvis Andrus has been in the big leagues for 14 years now. And for most, if not all of that time, he's been a starting shortstop. But now that the rebuilding Oakland A's have cut his playing time to get some youth into the lineup, he is not happily going along with the plan.

Everybody knows I’m an everyday player. So doing this, it’s not fun for me. Of course I’m upset, I’m pissed about it.  

Andrus has not been the most productive player the past two seasons in Oakland, hitting 30 points below his career average last year at .243, and dipping even more, to .237 this season, with a .665 OPS. 

23-year-old shortstop Nick Allen has been splitting time with him of late, and although he hasn't fared too well either (.209 thus far with a .550 OPS), the facts are the A's are rebuilding with youth, and Andrus is going to have to get used to it.

“Elvis and I spoke about how we proceed forward with getting Nick as many opportunities as possible, getting these younger players a chance to show what they can do for our future, for their future,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay told Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chroncle. “I don’t expect Elvis to be happy about it. But he’s a pro.”

The good news for the veteran, perhaps, is that this is the final guaranteed year of his massive (and some would say, bloated) 8-year, $120M contract signed with the Texas Rangers back in 2015. The A's currently hold a $15M team option, though it's quite doubtful they'd exercise it. And that turns into a player option if Andrus accrues 550 plate appearances. He's at 376 right now, yet another reason his at-bats are being limited.

"The best I can do is stay positive and wait for my turn," said Andrus, "and be ready whatever happens.”

 Photos Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports, Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports