The Athletics are next in our arbitration eligibles series.
- First time: Andrew Bailey, Daric Barton, Adam Rosales, Gio Gonzalez, Landon Powell
- Second time: Dallas Braden, Ryan Sweeney, Craig Breslow
- Third time: Joey Devine
- Fourth time: Brandon McCarthy
This entire group could reasonably be tendered contracts. It's possible someone like Rosales, a potential Super Two, would be cut loose even though his projected salary is only $600K. Powell, another likely Super Two, also failed to produce in the bigs but could be retained affordably.
Gonzalez should land the biggest salary at an estimated $3.6MM, as he'll be arbitration eligible as a Super Two. Braden should stay around $3.3MM after missing most of the season. Bailey could get $3.4MM for his first time through, while the A's can enjoy McCarthy cheaply for one more season at around $2.6MM.
Barton, Sweeney, and Breslow should fall in the $1.6-1.8MM range. It was a lost season for Barton culminating in shoulder surgery, but it's still a reasonable price to retain him. The A's also have Devine checking in around $900K.
In total we estimate $19.5MM for the Athletics' nine arbitration eligibles. Assuming Michael Wuertz's option is exercised, the A's are looking at a commitment of maybe $44MM plus minimum salary players. That'd put them $23MM short of this year's Opening Day payroll.
Matt Swartz contributed to this post.
