O'Flaherty was mention by manager Bob Melvin as one of the guys in the closer mix with Sean Doolittle likely opening the season on the DL, reports Jane Lee of MLB.com.

O'Flaherty was briefly put in the closer role in August when Doolittle missed a few weeks. O'Flaherty has put together five consecutive seasons with an ERA of 2.50 or under, but has only thrown 38 combined innings the last two seasons due to 2013 Tommy John Surgery. O'Flaherty did not have much of a platoon split in his limited 2014 innings (including an impressive career .186 batting average against to righties), but he has been much more effective in his career agaisnt lefties (.531 OPS against lefties and .714 OPS agaisnt righties) and is probably an underdog for saves to Tyler Clippard entering the spring.

O'Flaherty (elbow) was left off the A's Wild Card roster, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

O'Flaherty handled ninth-inning duties for a short period in the second half when Sean Doolittle was out with an oblique injury, but he missed the final eight days of the regular season with soreness in his surgically-repaired left elbow. Soreness is by no means uncommon in the year-plus following Tommy John surgery, but it's uncertain whether O'Flaherty will be available should the team advance to the ALDS.

O'Flaherty threw live batting practice Monday after missing eight days with a sore elbow, Yahoo! Sports' Jeff Passan reports.

He's coming off Tommy John surgery, but he posted a 2.25 ERA in 20 innings before getting shut down, so he could be a weapon out of the bullpen in the postseason if he's deemed healthy.

O'Flaherty allowed two hits and one earned run in one inning of work on Friday night.

The main takeover from his outing was that it occurred in the sixth inning. With Sean Doolittle activated off the DL on Friday, it is very clear that O'Flaherty's days in the mix at closer are done for now.

O'Flaherty blew his first save for the Athletics by coughing up a ninth inning home run to Tyler Flowers of the White Sox on Monday.

O'flaherty has been either shaky or hurt since getting a chance to close games for the A's. The left-hander's overall numbers are good, but he's testing manager Bob Melvin's confidence in the ninth inning role. O'Flaherty is 1-for-2 in save opportunities and has given up a run in both chances.

O'Flaherty (back) will be available as the Athletics' closer Monday against the White Sox in Chicago, John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group reports.

O'Flaherty's back flared up last Thursday, but after completing a mound session Monday, he'll assume closing duties for the Athletics. Since landing the gig in late August, he's made three appearances, one of which he's turned into the first save of his career.

O'Flaherty (back) played catch Sunday and plans to throw off of a mound prior to Monday's game, Joe Stiglich of CSN reports.

O'Flaherty's back tightened up during the team's off day Thursday, but he indicated that it's a problem he's experienced before, and it typically only lasts two or three days. He'll work off of a mound Monday in an attempt to test out the back, though manager Bob Melvin suggested O'Flaherty probably will not be available to pitch against the White Sox.

O'Flaherty picked up his first save for the A's after a shaky ninth inning, coughing up two hits, including a home run against the Astros.

It was O'Flaherty, not Luke Gregerson, who got the save opportunity for the injured Sean Doolittle. The left-hander eventually shut the door after Chris Carter tagged him for a solo homer with two outs in the ninth. O'Flaherty might have made Bob Melvin a little nervous Wednesday, but it looks like he will act as Oakland's intirim closer.

Manager Bob Melvin hinted that O'Flaherty would be the fill-in closer in lieu of Sean Doolittle landing on the DL with an oblique injury, the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser reports.

Melvin said he wants to keep guys with regular roles in those roles, meaning that Luke Gregerson and Ryan Cook will probably remain in setup roles. O'Flaherty has a 1.35 ERA in 13.1 innings out of the bullpen this season, and has a 2.79 ERA for his career, so assuming the A's beat writers are correct in assuming O'Flaherty will get the save opportunities, he's a worthwhile add in most formats.

O'Flaherty will be utilized in back-to-back contests going forward, John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group reports.

After undergoing Tommy John surgery in May of 2013, O'Flaherty made his way back to a major league mound in early July. In 14 appearances in the meantime, he's been on point, posting a 1.35 ERA, 0.825 WHIP, and 12:3 K:BB in 13.1 innings.

Athletics activated LHP Eric O'Flaherty from the 60-day disabled list.

O'Flaherty posted a 3.86 ERA with eight strikeouts over 9 1/3 innings during his rehab assignment. The left-hander should be a nice addition to the A's bullpen if he has regained his pre-Tommy John surgery form.

Athletics manager Bob Melvin said Wednesday that "there's a chance" Eric O'Flaherty (elbow) will be activated from the disabled list on Thursday.

Working his way back from Tommy John surgery, O'Flaherty has posted a 3.86 ERA with eight strikeouts over 9 1/3 innings during his rehab assignment. He would be a nice addition to the big club's bullpen if he has regained pre-surgery form. The A's begin a six-game homestand on Thursday.

Eric O'Flaherty (elbow) could be activated from the disabled list during the Athletics' next homestand, which begins on July 3.

Working his way back from Tommy John surgery, O'Flaherty has posted a 4.32 ERA with six strikeouts over 8 1/3 innings during his rehab assignment. The left-hander could prove to be a big part of the A's bullpen if he has regained his pre-surgery stuff.

Eric O'Flaherty (elbow) is scheduled to make his first rehab appearance with High-A Stockton on Friday.

O'Flaherty is on his way back from Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery, so he could be on a rehab assignment through mid-June. The left-hander should provide a nice boost for the Oakland bullpen when he's activated.

Eric O'Flaherty (elbow) thinks he'll be ready for a rehab assignment after throwing another simulated game Thursday.

O'Flaherty has been facing hitters for three weeks now and is nearing ready for some official game action. The left-hander should join the A's bullpen within the next few weeks.

Eric O'Flaherty (elbow) threw two simulated innings on Tuesday afternoon without issue.

O'Flaherty will perform a similar workout later this week before embarking on a minor league rehab assignment. He is about a year removed from Tommy John surgery and should join the A's bullpen sometime in June.

Eric O'Flaherty (elbow) threw his slider during a 25-pitch live batting practice session Tuesday.

The left-hander is nearing a rehab assignment. O'Flaherty is a week shy of the one-year anniversary of his Tommy John surgery, and it's looking like he'll be ready to join the A's bullpen pretty soon.

Eric O'Flaherty (elbow) threw 20 pitches to live hitters Saturday and reported feeling "great."

O'Flaherty will do a similar workout on Tuesday and could then be ready to begin pitching in minor league games. The left-handed reliever is on his way back from Tommy John surgery and not expected to be an option for the A's bullpen until sometime in June.

Eric O'Flaherty (elbow) will face hitters on Saturday.

It will be his first time doing so since last year's Tommy John surgery. O'Flaherty will begin a rehab assignment shortly after that. The A's are hoping to be able to add the left-hander to their bullpen sometime next month.

Eric O'Flaherty (elbow) is close to facing hitters.

O'Flaherty threw a 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday. The left-handed reliever remains on track to rejoin the A's bullpen at some point in June.