The Oakland Athletics reinstated right-handed starting pitcher A.J. Griffin from the 60-day disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A Nashville, where he had already been on a rehabilitation assignment, tweets CSN California's Joe Stiglich. To clear room on the 40-man roster, left-handed reliever Sean Doolittle was transferred to the 60-day disabled list, making him ineligible to return until July 27.

Griffin's place in Oakland's starting rotation remains an open question, considering the current effectiveness of backend starters Kendall Graveman and Jesse Chavez. For now, Griffin essentially will continue rehabilitating but without accruing service time.

This is the 70th day of the regular season, and so the 69 days of service time Griffin has accrued while on the major league disabled list leaves him exactly one day short of three years service time. This is probably more "sensible precaution" and not an indicator of future plans. If he stays healthy, he should be on the short list to be called up if someone underperforms or is injured. If he experiences some season-ending injury while on optional assignment in the minor leagues, however, he can be placed on the minor league disabled list, and the A's can extend his team control by another year.

Other injury news

Oakland Athletics first baseman Ike Davis began a rehabilitation assignment with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds Friday, right-handed reliever Edward Mujica will begin one with the Class-A Stockton Ports on Monday, and the A's hope to get Pat Venditte off the disabled list from his right shoulder strain as soon as he is eligible on June 26.

Ike Davis could return for next homestand

Starting for the Nashville Sounds Friday, first baseman Ike Davis went 1-for-3 with a double and one strikeout. Davis has been on the disabled list since May 14 recovering from a Grade 2 left quad strain, and could return as soon as the next homestand beginning June 17, writes John Hickey for the Bay Area News Group.

Edward Mujica will rehab in Stockton

Right-handed reliever Edward Mujica threw a bullpen session Thursday and will throw a bullpen session Saturday, writes Susan Slusser for the San Francisco Chronicle, before beginning a rehabilitation assignment in Stockton, Oakland's Class-A Advanced team, on Monday. Mujica has been on the disabled list since May 22 after suffering a broken thumb on a comebacker in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Pat Venditte hopes to return soon

Pat Venditte has "a small fray in the same area of his [right] shoulder where Venditte had surgery for a torn labrum in 2012," writes David Adler for MLB.com. As to just pitching with his left hand, Venditte said, "Conventional wisdom would just say to pitch left-handed, but with the constant pulling and whatnot, it's tough for anything to heal."

Venditte will be shut down for a week, and Venditte "believes he might not miss much more than the 15 -day minimum," writes Susan Slusser.