Let's start with a look at the Athletics' 2011 options:
- Eric Chavez has a $12.5MM club option with a $3MM buyout. This appears highly unlikely to be exercised.
- Mark Ellis has a $6MM club option with a $500K buyout. Ellis missed a large chunk of last year with a calf strain and hasn't played a full season since '07. Should he stay relatively healthy and maintain his top-notch defense, WAR might suggest Ellis will be worth the $5.5MM net price in 2011. Still, the A's would have to weigh their many second base alternatives as well as Ellis' market value.
- Coco Crisp has a $5.75MM club option with a $500K buyout. The club option is the silver lining on a pretty risky signing.
After 2010, the A's will be free of their $4MM obligation to Willy Taveras. Veteran starters Ben Sheets and Justin Duchscherer will be eligible for free agency.
The Athletics' first-year arbitration players will include Kurt Suzuki, Ryan Sweeney, Dallas Braden, Craig Breslow, and Travis Buck. A long-term deal for Suzuki may be in order. The A's will also have Kevin Kouzmanoff, Rajai Davis, and Joey Devine due raises as second-year arbitration players. Gabe Gross and Chad Gaudin are two more arbitration-eligible players, though they stand a chance of being non-tendered.
Thanks to Cot's Baseball Contracts for the information.
