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Athletics Notes: Manny, Cespedes

The A's made a splash Monday, signing Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes to a four-year, $36MM contract that allows him to reach free agency at its conclusion.  The latest on the club:

• "The A's are likely to sign Manny Ramirez just before or soon after the start of spring training," writes Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.  Pitchers and catchers are due to report Saturday, while the full squad reports February 24th.  Manny, of course, has a reputation of arriving late to spring training.  Ramirez would serve as designated hitter for the A's, but he'd first need to serve a 50-game PED suspension.
• Despite the Cespedes signing, Coco Crisp still feels he's Oakland's best center field option.  Crisp told Slusser, "Unless he's a demigod come down from the heavens, no one is going to outshine me in center field."  Crisp noted that a center field job was one of the reasons he chose the A's over the Rays, but concluded, "I'm excited to play alongside Cespedes - no matter what side that may be."
• Cespedes' no-arbitration clause is precedent-setting, writes ESPN's Buster Olney, as in the past only Japanese players have managed to secure free agency without the typical requirement of six years of Major League service.
• As I noted earlier today, the A's have four out of options players on the 40-man roster with fewer than five years of Major League service: Brandon Allen, Jerry Blevins, Joey Devine, and Kila Ka'aihue.

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