By Matthew T.F. Harrington

The Oakland Athletics might know their fate as buyers or sellers when the trade deadline comes sooner than they’d imagine. According to an interview with the Bay Area News Group’s John Hickey, A’s general manager Billy Beane does not expect Jesse Hahn to return from his flexor tendon injury anytime soon.

With the young righty, acquired from San Diego in the Derek Norris deal in the offseason, shelved for a significant period of time, the A’s rotation is now Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir, Kendall Graveman, Jesse Chavez and either Drew Pomeranz filling in as a spot starter or another call-up for Chris Bassitt. With the trade deadline looming at the end of the month, it’s almost guaranteed that Kazmir will be out of that equation and pitching for another club come August.

Bassitt, in 8 games (3 starts), has compiled a 2.93 ERA with 17 punchouts over 27.2 innings. The sophomore righty has started in his last three consecutive outings, going 5 innings or more in all three starts. He’s surrendered 5 earned runs over 17 innings as a starter, striking out 9 while walking just a pair batters. The 26-year-old hurler came to the A’s in the offseason deal that shipped Jeff Samardzija to the Chicago White Sox, with Rangel Ravelo also coming to Oakland in the deal.

The absence of Hahn, who has compiled a 6-6 record with a 3.35 earned run average this year, hurts more due to its timing. The Oakland A’s open the second half of the season facing the Minnesota Twins for three games at O.Co Coliseum. The Twins are riding a three-game winning streak and are looking to add to their four-game wild card lead.

Once the resilient Twins leave town, the Toronto Blue Jays potent offense comes to Oakland. The Jays are trying to gain ground on the Yankees in a wide-open American League East. After that, the A’s “travel” across the Bay for the Bay Bridge series before facing the National League West leaders the Los Angeles Dodgers in Southern California.