Next up in our Offseason In Review series, the Athletics.
Major League Signings
- Ben Sheets, SP: one year, $10MM.
- Coco Crisp, CF: one year, $5.5MM. Includes $5.75MM option for 2011 with a $500K buyout.
- Jack Cust, LF/DH: one year, $2.65MM.
- Justin Duchscherer, SP: one year, $2MM.
- Gabe Gross, OF: one year, $750K.
- Total spend: $20.9MM.
Notable Minor League Signings
Extensions
- Michael Wuertz, RP: two years, $5.25MM. Includes $3.25MM club option for 2012 with a $250K buyout.
Trades and Claims
- Acquired 3B/OF Jake Fox, 2B Aaron Miles, and $1MM from Cubs for P Jeff Gray, P Ronny Morla, and OF Matt Spencer
- Claimed Rule 5 pick P Bobby Cassevah from Angels
- Acquired OF Michael Taylor for 1B Brett Wallace
- Acquired 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff and 2B Eric Sogard from Padres for OF Aaron Cunningham and OF Scott Hairston
- Claimed 2B Steve Tolleson off waivers from Twins
- Acquired IF Adam Rosales and OF Willy Taveras from Reds for 2B Aaron Miles
- Traded P Dana Eveland to Blue Jays for cash
Notable Losses
- Adam Kennedy, Bobby Crosby, Scott Hairston, Aaron Cunningham, Willy Taveras, Aaron Miles, Jeff Gray, Matt Spencer, Ronny Morla, Nomar Garciaparra, Edgar Gonzalez, Santiago Casilla, Dana Eveland, Kevin Cameron, Jay Marshall, Tommy Everidge, Brett Wallace
Summary
This was an offseason of risk-taking for GM Billy Beane and company. Three-year offers to Adrian Beltre and Marco Scutaro were rejected, but the A's succeeded in committing $17.5MM to Sheets, Duchscherer, and Crisp. The pitchers tallied zero big league innings in 2009, while Crisp managed 49 games.
To be fair, Duchscherer at $2MM isn't a huge risk, even as he begins his season with back and hip pain. That Casey Close found a $10MM guarantee for Sheets after the pitcher missed all of 2009 due to elbow surgery is surprising. Perhaps the A's considered overpaying for Sheets their best route to importing an ace for 2010. There's also the added benefit of trading him midseason if necessary. The ace alternatives included trading for Roy Halladay, Javier Vazquez, or Cliff Lee, or signing John Lackey.
The A's must love Crisp's defense as much as the Red Sox once did, to make a $5.5MM commitment despite the player's two shoulder surgeries in 2009. The club option is the silver lining on that contract. An outfield of Crisp, Rajai Davis, and Ryan Sweeney could be spectacular defensively, and the Taylor-Wallace swap fits this theme.
Beane dealt from an area of strength to get Kouzmanoff, a credible third baseman. To acquire Fox and Rosales, the cost was mostly the $2.6MM or so lost on Taveras' salary, as the A's can do without Gray, Morla, and Spencer. Fox is a right-handed Cust without the walks, but at least the A's control the former Cub through 2015 if they choose. Rosales can theoretically fill a utility infield role that would've cost a million or more to fill in free agency anyway.
The A's will need stellar pitching and defense to win the AL West, because their offense projects to be in the bottom half of the league again. Even past their expected Opening Day rotation, most A's starters project to post ERAs in the low 4.00s and have the upside for more. The bullpen could be the league's best once again. The A's look like they have a shot this year, especially if they have the flexibility to trade for a bat midseason. I should warn you, though, that I liked the A's heading into 2009 as well.
It seems like sometimes the A’s are immune to criticism but 5.5M for Crisp is a huge and disgusting overpay. Ryan Sweeney will play D and hit better than him for much cheaper. I wish this team had an impact bat or two and I would believe in them a little more. Right now, their pitching and defense looks potentially great, but I don’t see how they will be scoring many runs. Hopefully Chris Carter will come up and take the 1B job very soon.
Obviously it could be a huge overpay. However, if he can hit .280 while stealing 30ish bases at a solid success rate, which he is entirely capable of, than it was the right move. Sweeney plays better D in right, Davis looks good in left and Crisp will play a solid center. This team has above average D at every position except SS (Pennington a huge question mark, a great arm, but ok glove and range).
Back to the point of the overpay, Beane judged the market at the time and miscalculated. That being said, unless someone was a former A (Giambi), no FA will come play in Oakland unless they are significantly overpaid. Simply put, Oakland is a last resort for guys on the open market. So I won’t cry over the Crisp signing, because if it fails, it’s a one year sunk cost, just like Sheets and Duke.
Obviously it could be a huge overpay. However, if he can hit .280 while stealing 30ish bases at a solid success rate, which he is entirely capable of, than it was the right move. Sweeney plays better D in right, Davis looks good in left and Crisp will play a solid center. This team has above average D at every position except SS (Pennington a huge question mark, a great arm, but ok glove and range).
Back to the point of the overpay, Beane judged the market at the time and miscalculated. That being said, unless someone was a former A (Giambi), no FA will come play in Oakland unless they are significantly overpaid. Simply put, Oakland is a last resort for guys on the open market. So I won’t cry over the Crisp signing, because if it fails, it’s a one year sunk cost, just like Sheets and Duke.
It seems like sometimes the A’s are immune to criticism but 5.5M for Crisp is a huge and disgusting overpay. Ryan Sweeney will play D and hit better than him for much cheaper. I wish this team had an impact bat or two and I would believe in them a little more. Right now, their pitching and defense looks potentially great, but I don’t see how they will be scoring many runs. Hopefully Chris Carter will come up and take the 1B job very soon.
This team would win the A.L. Central by 8 games.
It’s too bad they play in the West where they will lose by 8 games.
This team would win the A.L. Central by 8 games.
It’s too bad they play in the West where they will lose by 8 games.
Whatever you’re smoking, can I get some?
They’d be lucky to finish third in the Central. The West isn’t that good, concern yourself there. The Angels will have a down year, how could they not losing Lackey and Figgins. i know they’ve recovered in the past, but eventually it catches up with you.
Texas has mediocre starting pitching at best. The Mariners, while they added Lee, what have they done to warrant consideration as a playoff team?
The AL West is wide the heck open. All four teams are capable of winning the darn thing. I gotta say that I like Texas’ potential the most but they need the young guys to step up which doesn’t always happen. They may all be in the 80-88 win range. Should be interesting.
I have to agree with Greg Oakland likely won’t have the offense to compete with the other 3 teams in the West. I do like the sheets signing even if they are overpaying because he will bring back a decent prospect or two assuming he is healthy.
The AL West is wide the heck open. All four teams are capable of winning the darn thing. I gotta say that I like Texas’ potential the most but they need the young guys to step up which doesn’t always happen. They may all be in the 80-88 win range. Should be interesting.
Well they’ve added Figgins and Kotchman as well. The West is a very good division, every team has a weakness, but what team that doesn’t play in NY or Boston can say the same??? Any team could win it. You can’t say that in the central.
What have the Central teams done to warrant improvement over last season?
Tigers- Beyond Verlander and Scherzer, the rotation is a huge question mark. Porcello is young and time will tell if the 45 inning jump between the last 2 seasons. Damon could be a success or on the dawn of his career. I fail to see this team being better than last year with the loss of Granderson and the hope of Scherzer replicating Jackson’s production last year.
Royals- HAHAHAHAHA. Here’s hoping for 4th and a new GM. Although the Arguelles signing was nice.
Indians- A huge question mark. A year or 2 away still.
Twins- Meh. The division is theirs to lose. But their has gotta be some regression from Kubel and Cuddyer after career years.
White Sox- Gotta think the rotation needs to perform in order to compete. And Quentin needs to stay healthy…
Well they’ve added Figgins and Kotchman as well. The West is a very good division, every team has a weakness, but what team that doesn’t play in NY or Boston can say the same??? Any team could win it. You can’t say that in the central.
What have the Central teams done to warrant improvement over last season?
Tigers- Beyond Verlander and Scherzer, the rotation is a huge question mark. Porcello is young and time will tell if the 45 inning jump between the last 2 seasons. Damon could be a success or on the dawn of his career. I fail to see this team being better than last year with the loss of Granderson and the hope of Scherzer replicating Jackson’s production last year.
Royals- HAHAHAHAHA. Here’s hoping for 4th and a new GM. Although the Arguelles signing was nice.
Indians- A huge question mark. A year or 2 away still.
Twins- Meh. The division is theirs to lose. But their has gotta be some regression from Kubel and Cuddyer after career years.
White Sox- Gotta think the rotation needs to perform in order to compete. And Quentin needs to stay healthy…
you should’ve considered putting this as a reply b/c if i didn’t know who you were directing this to, i’d think you’re trying to buy drugs on an MLB Rumors website
Whatever you’re smoking, can I get some?
They’d be lucky to finish third in the Central. The West isn’t that good, concern yourself there. The Angels will have a down year, how could they not losing Lackey and Figgins. i know they’ve recovered in the past, but eventually it catches up with you.
Texas has mediocre starting pitching at best. The Mariners, while they added Lee, what have they done to warrant consideration as a playoff team?
The A’s are gonna be a fun team to watch this year. The only obstacle will be scoring runs and staying healthy. The AL West is wide open for the taking.
The A’s are gonna be a fun team to watch this year. The only obstacle will be scoring runs and staying healthy. The AL West is wide open for the taking.
Taylor’s hitting cleanup in the intrasquad games. If he has a good spring, we’ll know a lot about whether Beane is serious about going for it in 2009 by whether they let him make the team. My bet is no, they keep him down till after the Super 2 deadline no matter what he does.
Taylor’s hitting cleanup in the intrasquad games. If he has a good spring, we’ll know a lot about whether Beane is serious about going for it in 2009 by whether they let him make the team. My bet is no, they keep him down till after the Super 2 deadline no matter what he does.
I mean 2010.
I mean 2010.
I usually agree with everything you have to say PL, but I don’t think Pennington is gonna steal 30+ bags… 15 tops I would think.
It’s gonna be a tough season for the A’s, seeing as the whole division is looking alot better(with the exception of Anaheim but that could be argued) but the A’s definitely have a chance. I would have liked to see Taylor be starting in RF, but with the Crisp signing, it seems to make more sense to start him in the minors.
I usually agree with everything you have to say PL, but I don’t think Pennington is gonna steal 30+ bags… 15 tops I would think.
It’s gonna be a tough season for the A’s, seeing as the whole division is looking alot better(with the exception of Anaheim but that could be argued) but the A’s definitely have a chance. I would have liked to see Taylor be starting in RF, but with the Crisp signing, it seems to make more sense to start him in the minors.
I find it hard to believe that Beane has the A’s in rebuild mode given the Sheets signing. I’ve been puzzling over this one since it happened. Why is Beane spending something like a fifth of his payroll on such an injury risk? I could see a team like the Yankees spending $10 million for the chance of Sheets’s upside but the A’s? If he performs well and the A’s contend, this works. If he breaks down and the A’s flounder, Beane may be axed, but he was probably under such pressure anyway given the past few seasons. And, if he performs well but the A’s cannot keep up with other teams in the West and the wildcard race, then Beane can trade him to a contender for a bunch of prospects and use the signing to restock. So, I guess it makes some sense if Beane needed to take such a risk to save his job, but, otherwise, I have a lot of concerns.
For now. But that could easily change.
Personally, I think Davis will do a bit better as a corner outfielder. He looked good in center, but I felt that sometimes he was overrunning balls and missing a few he should have had. Do you know how any defensive metrics rated his play in center?
For now. But that could easily change.
Personally, I think Davis will do a bit better as a corner outfielder. He looked good in center, but I felt that sometimes he was overrunning balls and missing a few he should have had. Do you know how any defensive metrics rated his play in center?
I’d forgotten that Wolfe had given Beane a small share of ownership as part of his last contract. But, if the owner becomes unhappy with the guy running the team (the GM, the senior VP for operations, the president–whatever the title is), he’ll remove him even if he has a share and either buy out his share or give him a title without authority. Ownership groups have even done this to managing partners. I just don’t think Beane is all that safe if the A’s fail to perform.