A’s closer Sean Doolittle diagnosed with slight tear in rotator cuff

General managers aren’t kidding when they insist teams can never have enough pitching. It’s not even February yet, and we’ve already learned the Oakland A’s will be without a key member in their bullpen for the foreseeable future.

On Friday, the team announced that All-Star closer Sean Doolittle has a slight tear of the rotator cuff is his left shoulder. Doolittle is also experiencing considerable inflammation in the area, according to MLB.com’s Jane Lee, and the team is already preparing to be without him for opening day. 

The A’s say Doolittle will be reevaluated at a later date before determining the next step. Not expected to be ready by start of season.

— Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) January 23, 2015

With that, Billy Beane’s recent acquisition of Tyler Clippard takes on new significance. The soon-to-be 30-year-old right-hander has closing experience, notching 32 saves for the Washington Nationals in 2012. And though he’s excelled over the past two seasons as a set up man, posting a 2.29 ERA over 147 appearances, he’s a natural fit to assume the closer’s role again.

The timing also suggests Oakland acquired Clippard as insurance, knowing full well that Doolittle may be sidelined. Joe Stiglich of Comcast Sports Net reported that Doolittle pitched through similar discomfort last season and aggravated it again when he started his offseason throwing program, which lends more credence to that thought. However, A’s assistant general manager David Frost insists that trade was made independent of Doolittle’s condition. 

Forst says Clippard trade was made independent of Doolittle’s condition. But no doubt, adding him bolsters depth given this news #Athletics

— Joe Stiglich (@JoeStiglichCSN) January 24, 2015

Either way, it really does set up well for Oakland in the short term, and there remains plenty of optimism that’s all the arrangement will need to be. 

Doolittle has a small rotator cuff tear, inflammation. He had a platelet-rich plasma injection and will be re-evaluated.

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) January 23, 2015

Asst GM David Forst tells me that doctors do not believe that Doolittle will need surgery; rest and treatment should resolve the issue.

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) January 23, 2015

With question marks all over the starting rotation, a deeper bullpen will be essential in Oakland’s bid for a fourth straight postseason appearance. The A’s also have experienced arms in Ryan Cook and Dan Otero to pick up some of the slack, but having a healthy and effective Cliipard-Doolittle combo in the late innings is the set up they obviously desire. And with good reason. 

Now, it’s a waiting game as the healing process begins, but don’t be surprised if an aggressive Billy Beane reemerges should the waiting go on too long. 

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813