A's call up new acquisition Powell

OAKLAND -- After trading for him Sunday, the A's called up outfielder Boog Powell from Triple-A Nashville on Friday afternoon.
Oakland acquired Powell from the Mariners in exchange for first baseman Yonder Alonso, the lone All-Star for the A's this year. Powell made his Major League debut with the Mariners in April and played in 23 Major League games, batting .194.
"Wherever you acquire a player like that, you want to take a look at him," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "We hear that he's a pretty aggressive player, and we'd like to see that."
After being selected by the A's in the 20th round of the 2012 Draft, Powell was traded to the Rays in January 2015 before being sent to Seattle in a November 2015 trade. Conveniently, Nashville started a four-game series in Tacoma the day after he was traded, allowing Powell a chance to pack his apartment and move out before getting the call that he was coming to Oakland.
"It couldn't have worked out better for me," Powell said. The left-handed hitter will platoon in center field with veteran Rajai Davis and start against right-handed pitchers.
Powell was set to be in the A's lineup for Friday night's 5-4 win over the Orioles, batting ninth and playing center field in his Oakland debut, but was scratched 45 minutes before first pitch with an upper respiratory infection. Davis took his place.
In addition to Powell, the A's recalled right-hander Michael Brady from Nashville. It's the third time Brady's been called up to Oakland this season, though his second stay was short. He threw six innings in relief Aug. 1, giving up four runs on five hits against the Giants. He was sent down the next day. He's allowed eight earned runs in 17 1/3 innings with the A's this season.

Oakland optioned outfielders Jaycob Brugman and Mark Canha to Nashville. Brugman has spent two months with the A's after making his Major League debut June 9 and hit .266 with three homers and 12 RBIs. Melvin said he thought Brugman swung the bat well, but could play "a little bit more aggressive" in the outfield.
"I don't think Brugman did anything to play his way out of here. It's a matter of trying to see some different guys," Melvin said. "I would be surprised if we didn't see Brugman again in September."

Canha was called up for his third stint with the A's on Aug. 2 and went 5-for-16 with a homer in five games. Canha is batting .210 in 34 games in the Majors this season. Melvin thought Canha looked good in what was, according to Melvin, a planned short stay in the Majors.
"We brought him up at a time when he was swinging the bat well, and even his outs looked like he had really aggressive swings," Melvin said. "His timing was there. He'll be back again as well, is my guess."

Worth noting
• The A's also announced that right-handed reliever Bobby Wahl (right shoulder discomfort) will undergo thoracic outlet surgery Monday in Dallas. Wahl was placed on the disabled list May 24 with a strained right shoulder and had been out on a rehab assignment in late July, but the discomfort ended the rehab.