In ‘23, San Francisco utilized Wood in more of a swingman role. Dealing with separate back and hamstring injuries, he made 12 starts and appeared in a total of 29 games, posting a 4.33 ERA with 74 strikeouts and 42 walks in 97 2/3 innings.
Wood will likely slot back into a full-time starting role with the A’s, who hope he can help ease the burden on a rotation that used 24 starting pitchers last season, tied for a Major League record. Oakland's starters also pitched 738 innings in 2023, the fewest by any staff in the American League.
The addition of Wood seemingly gives Oakland three rotation locks, along with Paul Blackburn and
JP Sears. The group of pitchers competing for rotation spots this spring includes Ken Waldichuk, Luis Medina, Joe Boyle, Joey Estes, Mitch Spence, Freddy Tarnok and Adrián Martínez.