2007 Oakland Athletics

Next up in our refreshed team outlooks, the A's.

Billy Beane's contract obligations:

C - Jason Kendall - $8MM
C - Adam Melhuse - $0.815MM
1B - Dan Johnson - $0.38MM
2B - Mark Ellis - $3.5MM
SS - Bobby Crosby - $2.5MM
3B - Eric Chavez - $9.5MM
IF - Marco Scutaro - $1.55MM
IF - Antonio Perez - $0.5MM
LF - Nick Swisher - $0.38MM
CF - Mark Kotsay - $7.5MM
RF - Milton Bradley - $4MM
OF - Bobby Kielty - $2.1MM
OF - Shannon Stewart - $1MM + incentives
DH - Mike Piazza - $8.5MM

SP - Esteban Loaiza - $7MM
SP - Dan Haren - $2.2MM
SP - Rich Harden - $2MM
SP - Joe Blanton - $0.38MM 
SP - Joe Kennedy - $2.8MM

RP - Alan Embree - $2.25MM
RP - Kiko Calero - $1.6MM
RP - Jay Witasick - $1.5MM
RP - Justin Duchscherer - $1.1875MM
RP - Chad Gaudin - $0.38MM
RP - Huston Street - $0.38MM
RP - Brad Halsey - $0.38MM

On the fringe: Halsey, Perez, Lenny Dinardo, Ryan Goleski, Jay Marshall

It appears to be a $72MM payroll.  As you'll notice, the A's have a bit of a roster crunch if everyone is healthy.  I've listed 26 players because I'm not sure who gets sent down or dealt.  It seems one of Halsey or Perez won't break camp with the team, as the A's don't want Piazza as the backup catcher.  One injury or trade may solve this problem.  Two injuries/trades could clear space for an interesting Rule 5 project like Goleski.      

Johnson seems the favorite to earn the first base job, and maybe correction of his double vision can help him return to average 1B production.  I know he's got it in him.  If I'm wrong, Erubiel Durazo or Daric Barton will get a shot.

The position players are otherwise locked in, but how many times will we see that starting eight on the field at once?  Johnson, Kendall, and Swisher may be the only guys to avoid the DL this year out of the group.  To be fair, Kotsay is always kind of day-to-day with his back but he's stayed on the field the past few seasons.  As for Chavez - is he the picture of health or are his injuries a major concern?  Both those articles came out on the same day.  And you know all about the issues of Crosby, Ellis, and Bradley.  The team's defense appears well above average when the regulars are on the field.

Haren and Blanton are the two starters who can be counted on for 30+ starts.  Loaiza doesn't scare me much, and Kennedy can be replaced by numerous candidates if he can't handle the switch to starting.  Jason Windsor might be able to hurl some 85mphers past Vlad and co as the sixth man.  Harden is the wild card.  He's got ace potential but has been derailed for years since a blister rippled into a sprained elbow ligament.  He's the difference maker, as this is a pitching and defense team in my opinion.

The bullpen is deep; this team should be involved in plenty of low-scoring games.  A power core of Swisher/Piazza/Chavez can be quite good, with a solid supporting cast.  It's true the A's had some bad luck on certain injuries last year, but they'll need a similar amount of career years healthwise to be an AL superpower.

Comments

[hiphopjunkie]

what do you think the future holds for former top prospect, pitcher Dan Meyer?

[jpkinney7]

If Shannon Stewart stays healthy this Spring, and Ryan Goleski impresses... Witasick and Kielty need to be packaged (or released).

Halsey should take the 7th bullpen spot. Long Relief & LOOGY.

Dan Meyer (acquired via Tim Hudson Trade) says a Quarter-Size Bone Spur was taken out of his shoulder this offseason, and all reports indicate that his stuff is back. He'll need to prove himself in AAA-Sacramento. If Joe Kennedy Fails, I wouldn't be surprised to see Meyer on the 25-Man right after the All-Star Break.

[Yu Hsing Chen]

This looks like a off year for the A's, I'm definately taking the Angels over them right now. they simply don't have a lot of anything except maybe bullpen, but then so does the Angels....

[Droptop]

Thank you Roto. What are the issues with Mark Ellis? He's had two back to back healthy seasons now and set a new all-time FLD% for 2B in a season...
Kielty is in his walk year, if Goleski shows promise in his rehab stints in AAA Kielty MUST be dealt, he's an okay bench OF and tears up lefties but Beane can get something for him so he should, even if it's minor league depth(mainly because I just don't see this team being able to beat the Angels for the Division).

I'd rather see Ron Flores then Brad Halsey. PLEASE, NO Witasick...

I'm about as worried about Dan Meyer as I am Harden or Crosby until any of them finally have a full healthy season again. All 3 are non-factors until they prove otherwise.

[jpkinney7]

IF "relatively" healthy, including (and, especially) Harden getting 30+ Starts, How many wins does this team get? I say 88-92 Wins.

Harden > Zito
Stewart = Payton
Thomas > Piazza

But remember, Frank Thomas hit only 11 doubles last season, and could never get off the basepaths unless he hit a Bomb. Also, it took Frank Thomas about 2 months to get healthy and fully adjusted to MLB pitching.

Frank Thomas Pre All-Star Break:

238/367/523 (214 AB's)

Piazza should be more consistent...and he'll be able to get around the basepaths.

[O's4Lyfe]

Why are we waisting our time talking about the Athletics? the team we should be talking about is the Orioles..

Nick Markakis becoming an elite player this year.. watch out Beltran and Soriano

[JerseyMetFan]

Never put Markakis' name in the same sentence as Beltran and Soriano. In a few years, MAYBE. But definitely not yet. Hell, don't even put Soriano's name in the same sentence as Beltran.

[jmonahan7]

DO ONE FOR THE NATIONALS!!!!! You never did one for them before i don't think.

[kevybo1]

Didden't he say he is going to make one up for evry team.

[RotoAuthority]

Alright, Nats are next.

[JerseyMetFan]

The Nats? Yuck. Maybe the Mets after them.....?

[jmonahan7]

yay thank you

[Droptop]

jp - I completely agree about Frank vs Piazza. I think although Piazza wont match his numbers, the team will be better off with him as the DH. Plus, a healthy Chavez and Piazza should cover what Chavez/Thomas did last year.