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2010 Options: Oakland Athletics
The A's are faced with just one 2010 option, Jason Giambi. It's a $6.5MM club option with a $1.25MM buyout. So the question will be whether Giambi, at age 39, is worth a net of $5.25MM in 2010. Through 96 plate appearances this year, Giambi is hitting .210/.333/.296. He's hitting grounders at the same rate as his miserable '04 season. The silver lining might be that Giambi had a rough April last year as well.
The A's really need Giambi, Orlando Cabrera, and Matt Holliday to start hitting. Talking to Joe Stiglich of the San Jose Mercury News, GM Billy Beane indicated the A's are unlikely to bring in reinforcements for their woeful offense.
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I think it is increasingly unlikely that the A's will pick up Giambi's option.
The A's are more likely, especially with things headed where they are, to go into 2010 with Jack Cust as the Designated Hitter, and calling up several Prospects to fill positions.
Aaron Cunningham will likely replace Holliday in Left Field, Adrian Cardenas is a good bet to replace Orlando Cabrera at Shortstop in 2010 until Dusty Coleman or Jason Christian are ready, and Sean Doolittle is a good bet to take over either First Base or Right Field, depending on how Chris Carter and Daric Barton do this year.
Another potential impact on 2010 is Corey Brown, who has managed to cut his Strikeouts down from last year, and is tearing the cover off the ball in AA. A Legitimate Centerfielder, if Brown is ready in 2010, he could take over for Ryan Sweeney in CF, or take over RF with Cust at DH if no other outfield options are ready.
Posted by: Zonis | May 06, 2009 at 02:26 PM
holliday is the biggest dsiappointment since he's in the prime of his career and probably in oakland for only several more months.
giambi, cabrera, etc were only available due to their price and age, so their struggles arent surprising as much
the A's needed guys like buck/barton/sweeney etc to step up and progress to show they are core players for the future. at the moment,not so much. the only guy to show that had been suzuki.
barton/buck/sweeney if they stall, the next wave of players carter/cardenas/brown/dollittle etc will push them aside
Posted by: arly2380 | May 06, 2009 at 02:37 PM
I've long believed Cabrera is overrated. His work so far this year solidifies my argument.
Giambi's best years are behind him. I think he'll hit 20-25 this year, but he won't be anywhere near .300. I agree that Cust is more suited for DH.
As far as Holliday goes, his value will be so depleted if his post-Coors numbers remain this mortal that he actually may be affordable on a 1-year type deal. Boras will have his work cut out for him.
As far as Nomar goes - why is he even on that team?
Posted by: www.homehalfway.net | May 06, 2009 at 02:42 PM
Agreed Zonis, though I believe Cardenas is still a work in progress at short.
It's still early, but it's looking like Giambi, Cabrera and Nomar were mistakes, and that Beane probably should have added a viable 3B option and a veteran starting pitcher instead of those three.
Posted by: scatterbrian | May 06, 2009 at 02:51 PM
Mistakes? What makes Barton, Crosby, and Hannahan that much better than Giambi, Cabrera, and Nomar?
Posted by: Know ID yuh | May 06, 2009 at 03:17 PM
Jeeees.. Giambi is that old?
Luckily he didn't require a major haul. Greg Smith was just another arm and Street has been iffy.
Carlos Gonzalez might turn into a all star 5 tool player or he might turn into a AAAA player.
Posted by: 661dodgerblue | May 06, 2009 at 03:26 PM
I didn't buy the hype that the A's were getting in the off-season (no way were they a 90 win team that some predicted). However, I wouldn't count them out yet. Like the Twins, the A's just seem to find a way to win. With Seattle coming back down to Earth, the AL West will be another A's/Angels battle.
Posted by: bjsguess | May 06, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Frustrating Year so far for A's Fans. By the time Holliday starts heating up (if ever), this team is going to be 10-20 games under .500. Pretty soon it's going to be impossible to bring Free Agent Hitters to Oakland (-2 Elevation). Just like it's impossible to bring Free Agent Pitchers to Colorado or Toronto.
Injuries, Injuries, Injuries: Nomar and Chavez think they'll be ready to return mid-may. Doubt it.
Duchscherer to return beginning of June - In what role? Starting or Relief?
Young Pitching is Struggling to find itself.
Geren is horrid.
Posted by: jpkinney7 | May 06, 2009 at 04:56 PM
"I've long believed Cabrera is overrated. His work so far this year solidifies my argument."
I don't know what kind of reputation you held Cabrera to, but I wouldn't say he was ever overrated.
He's always been considered a quality glove at shortstop that makes lots of contact and has a little pop, and he's essentially been that.
The guy has had 3.5+ win seasons in four of his past six seasons, so I would say that it's awfully difficult to say that Cabrera has been subpar at all.
Posted by: scribbletone | May 06, 2009 at 05:29 PM
Giambi has always started the season slow, even when he was good. It seems like every decision the A's made this year looks like a mistake. Lets try to keep the faith though it's still early and they are not that far behind.
Posted by: Thez316 | May 06, 2009 at 06:06 PM
I find it hard to believe that the A's brought in Cabrera, Giambi, Garciaparra and Holliday to boost their offense and none of the above have done anything to greatly improve their run support of their young staff. It says alot about the hitting coaches and training staff we have with the A's.
Posted by: jt | May 06, 2009 at 07:04 PM
" It says alot about the hitting coaches and training staff we have with the A's."
The A's brought in a new hitting coach this year, if I'm right.
The A's training staff has always been questionable.
"Giambi has always started the season slow, even when he was good. It seems like every decision the A's made this year looks like a mistake. Lets try to keep the faith though it's still early and they are not that far behind."
I agree with this sentiment. Giambi, Cabrera, and Holliday won't all be this weak all season. They'll improve, just by how much?
"Aaron Cunningham will likely replace Holliday in Left Field, Adrian Cardenas is a good bet to replace Orlando Cabrera at Shortstop in 2010 until Dusty Coleman or Jason Christian are ready, and Sean Doolittle is a good bet to take over either First Base or Right Field, depending on how Chris Carter and Daric Barton do this year."
And, I think Cardenas ends up the long term SS unless the A's either trade for a SS prospect or Weeks has problems at 2B. Cardenas has more upside than Coleman and Christian. I think, ultimately, Carter gets 1B, Doolittle gets LF, and Cust gets DH. Cunningham gets CF and the better of Buck/Sweeney get RF. This is assuming they all pan out though, which is a wild assumption.
I wouldn't say its unlikely Giambi's option gets picked up unless he keeps hitting like this.
Posted by: melonis rex | May 06, 2009 at 08:20 PM