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Three Needs: Oakland Athletics

By Jeff Todd | September 19, 2017 at 12:36pm CDT

This is the latest edition in MLBTR’s Three Needs series. Click to read entries on the Braves, Tigers, Reds, Pirates, Giants, Mets, and Blue Jays.

Oakland entered the 2017 season with a plan to compete, but there was always an alternative course available. With some intriguing young players pushing for MLB time and a few quality veterans on short-term deals, the A’s pivoted to a youth-first strategy over the summer. That shapes the club’s needs entering the offseason.

1. Make a call on Jed Lowrie.

The one obvious veteran trade chip that wasn’t moved this summer was Lowrie, who is controllable next year by way of a $6MM club option ($1MM buyout). It seems all but a foregone conclusion that the option will be picked up; Lowrie has rewarded the A’s faith in his ability by slashing .276/.358/.450 over 597 plate appearances this year. The question remains, though, where he’ll play.

If he stays in Oakland, Lowrie would surely retain a hold on regular second base duties, at least to open the season. That would mean less infield time for Chad Pinder as well as a return to the upper minors for Franklin Barreto (who could certainly stand to continue working on reducing his swings), recent acquisition Jorge Mateo (who has yet to reach Triple-A), and Joey Wendle (who came over in the Brandon Moss deal).

While there’s an avenue to keeping Lowrie around, at least until next summer’s trade deadline, it’s fair to wonder whether the A’s ought instead to cut the cord. The veteran infielder is a versatile asset, with the ability to hit from both sides of the plate and plenty of experience up the middle, so he ought to draw real interest. Even if he won’t command a huge return, the A’s might reasonably expect to get something intriguing back while also opening the door wide open for the younger options to sink or swim.

Either way, it would likely behoove the A’s to make this call fairly early on. Lowrie might hold more appeal at the outset of free agency, when he’d represent a cheaper alternative for teams considering open-market veterans. And if he’s going to go off the books, the A’s would be well-served to have a full offseason to pursue interesting ways of utilizing the extra roster spot.

But he’s not the only possible trade piece. The team also ought to …

2. Dangle Khris Davis.

There’s less of a rush here, but the A’s ought to push to get a read on Davis’s market even as competitors weigh moves for slugging free agents. Davis is closing in on a second-straight forty-dinger campaign, which’ll boost his current $5MM arbitration salary yet higher in his final two years of control. Still, he’ll cost a pittance compared to, say, J.D. Martinez.

While Davis doesn’t have that kind of bat, and has graded terribly on defense this year, he has produced offense at more than twenty percent above league average in each of the past three campaigns in spite of his contact problems. The case of Chris Carter shows that teams won’t go wild for a player with this profile, though Mark Trumbo did score $37.5MM over three years from the Orioles last winter.

Oakland would likely be better off sending Davis on to another organization while his value is at a relative high-point. With so many young players looking to find their way in the majors, it would take quite a few good breaks for this roster to spring into contention in the next two years. Continuing to employ Davis, especially at his skyrocketing rate of pay, doesn’t seem to serve the team’s long-term interests.

That’s especially true since there may be an opportunity to …

3. Take advantage of other teams’ outfield surpluses.

The A’s already have young players lined up all over the roster. Few are sure things, but the club will want to get extended looks at its most intriguing assets in the infield and rotation. That’s even true to some extent in the bullpen, where the club has a few interesting pitchers and can also stash those hurlers that don’t crack the starting five. While the pitching remains a long-term concern, there isn’t exactly a ton of room to add new arms; as importantly, other clubs won’t be anxious to allow the A’s to get ahold of their most interesting youngsters.

It’s a somewhat different situation in the outfield, though. There, veterans — the aforementioned Davis, Matt Joyce, and Rajai Davis — have seen the most extensive time this year. And there are only a few younger players — Pinder, Boog Powell, Jaycob Brugman, Mark Canha — that seem to be plausible options to roam the major-league grass for the A’s in 2018. Meanwhile, quite a few other clubs could face difficult choices with their own outfield situations. The Cardinals and Brewers have perhaps the most notable forthcoming surpluses, but it’s possible to imagine some intriguing outfield talent shaking loose from a fair number of other organizations as well as they seek to manage 40-man roster pressure and improve their chances at contention.

The A’s can afford to have patience that other teams can’t. Acquiring some new outfield talent for little cost — through minor trades, claims, the Rule 5 draft, and other means — would create an opportunity for the team to capture the upside of low-service-time talent. The A’s came into 2017 paying at least $5MM apiece to three outfielders (the Davises and Joyce) along with a host of other players (Lowrie, Trevor Plouffe, and a few relievers). For 2018, the club should keep the money in its pocket and see if it can find a few diamonds in the rough for the outfield.

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MLBTR Originals Oakland Athletics Three Needs

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45 Comments

  1. ral981

    8 years ago

    Why no mention of Joey Wendle? Defense better than Barreto and offense pretty similar. Has done much better with minimal opportunities in big league.

    1
    Reply
    • rycm131

      8 years ago

      Is this Billy Beane using a fake screen name?

      1
      Reply
    • Jeff Todd

      8 years ago

      Can throw him in the mix, yeah, I’ll add it.

      Reply
    • shanedelreal12

      8 years ago

      Joey Wendle will be 28 before next season starts. If they don’t keep jed or give it to Barretto then it should be Pinder.

      2
      Reply
      • Jbigz12

        8 years ago

        I think Baretto needs another full year in AAA. Unfortunately I think if you call him up to the bigs and expect him to play everyday you’ll be giving him the hunter renfroe treatment by July. That plate discipline will destroy him. Still very young so there should be no rush to have him up.

        Reply
      • ral981

        8 years ago

        Yeah their numbers look great…

        Reply
  2. zacharydmanprin

    8 years ago

    Ugh…pitching?

    1
    Reply
    • CCCTL

      8 years ago

      Yep.

      Lowrie being around for another 2/3’s season or so wouldn’t hurt while Barretto gets his bat in order. Outfield is filling in.

      Stabilizing the rotation is Need Number 1.

      1
      Reply
      • Jeff Todd

        8 years ago

        My view is that they’d need to stabilize the rotation were there any reason to care about winning baseball games in 2018. I think it’s time to take some pain in the W/L department, not spend money to hold things together as a slightly below-average team.

        1
        Reply
        • OaklandKAM

          8 years ago

          By “Take some pain in the W/L department” do you mean tank for a draft pick?

          Their position player group is pretty much fully set for 2018, whether they keep Lowrie or not. I would actually keep him unless a solid offer comes along. I would also keep Davis unless some team is willing to overpay, and the market does not seem to be at that point.

          The A’s have a TINY amount of money on the books for 2018, even by historical A’s standards.

          They have the position player core and lots of pitching depth. They also have another wave of players in the minors both at the AA level and a strong low level minors group, so future upside is there.

          They need to rebuild the fanbase to open the new stadium. Investing some of the free budget on pitching in 2018 and creating some upside with the young position core could make them a contender earlier than most expect, a la the 2015 Astros.

          If I were writing an A’s 2018 needs article, it would be pitching, pitching, pitching (and maybe a RHH veteran catcher).

          This post wasn’t even really “needs”. The A’s being a far subpar team in 2018 for the 4th straight year is not really a sound strategy.

          Reply
    • Jeff Todd

      8 years ago

      Well, I addressed it. But what approach are they going to take to add new pitchers for 2018? Could always go after more bounceback types, but there are limits to the upside there and it seems time they just threw the young guys into the fire (or, in the case of some, left them there).

      1
      Reply
      • OaklandKAM

        8 years ago

        The A’s nailed it on Colon in 2012, Kazmir in 2014 and Hill in 2016. They should seek a similar guy for 2018. And then bolster the pen. I don’t think it would be too difficult to improve the pitching staff. The A’s have lots of young pitching depth in the rotation, they need a veteran to stabilize things. And they traded their two best relievers, so they need to address that, which they have done many times before in FA.

        Reply
        • pspahn

          8 years ago

          I can’t agree more.

          Jed and Khrush should be kept. There’s a reason the A’s were able to sign these guys in the first place, because their markets are thin and the A’s aren’t anyone’s first choice. They also rake.

          The position players are pretty much set. I don’t care what anyone says, I like Semien and I’m glad we have him instead of Russel. I do miss Vogt, so a catcher with presence like his seems sorely missed. The OF looks fine.

          This team needs pitching, and while I’m not sold on the rotation, I think they need to build from the bullpen up. Just go over the moon with guys looking for a chance. I know that’s been a common theme for BB over the years, but this year just focus all that on the pen. Everything else looks fine for Spring Training. Keep getting young pen arms. It’s the A’s, there will always be a rotation to throw together and see if it catches lighting in a bottle.

          How about RA Dickey getting a shot at pitching in Oakland?

          Reply
  3. nmendoza44

    8 years ago

    I say sign Tyson Ross, a former A, then trade him like they did with Hill.

    1
    Reply
    • tim815

      8 years ago

      Why do people seem to think that “pitching with one less rib” is somehow an acceptable gamble?

      Until it is, it isn’t.

      Go, Paul Blackburn, Go.

      Reply
      • nste23

        8 years ago

        Paul Blackburn is a great find for the A’s

        Reply
        • bkwalker510

          8 years ago

          He of the incredibly unsustainable K rate. Blackburn is the next Tommy Milone IF he hits his ceiling.

          Reply
  4. Antitoxidote

    8 years ago

    How things shake up with Jed Lowrie will be interesting. He’ll probably be on the market with a similarly profiled Ian Kinsler, only costing half as much.

    I don’t think Khris Davis goes anywhere and for what for?

    The outfield talent has been a problem (too many 4th OF types). They’ll probably let things shake out with Fowler coming back and see what happens

    Reply
    • nste23

      8 years ago

      A’s would be stupid to trade Khris Davis

      1
      Reply
    • empiresam

      8 years ago

      I love Lowrie but this seems to be his first healthy full season and his trade value will recognize this. Surprised he wasn’t traded this past 8/31. Most value again might be if an injury opens up another team’s needs in July or August.

      Reply
      • pspahn

        8 years ago

        Just because, I say go get RA Dickey. The Braves might swing on the money some, who knows. Having Sonny as the ace felt odd. He was too young and while he was an absolute bulldog, it just wasn’t right not having a bunch of young guys with one old bastard leading the charge.

        I say dangle Barreto. Heck, Dickey might pitch until he’s 60 and while it’s just three games, he’s pitched well in Oakland and I’m sure the humid air would be a good sell for it’s help on the knuckle. He’s about the same age as Candiotti was as well. His deal is up 2018 and $8 million is doable. He’s been a touch under league average this year, and to be quite honest, I would love to have a guy on the rotation that can approach 200 innings and be competent and last all season. I think he has a fantastic year, though, so he’s got that going for him, which is nice.

        Reply
        • OaklandKAM

          8 years ago

          There is NO WAY you trade Barreto for RA Dickey. Barreto has 6 years of club control including 3 at minimum. Dickey is a decent #4 pitcher who is 42 and has one option year at $8 million. There is no way that Dickey comes near Barreto’s value.

          Dickey is not a bad guy to target, but it would be more for like a guy in the 20s or 30s of the A’s top prospect lists.

          Reply
  5. LA Sam

    8 years ago

    Easier to discuss their 3 Haves….could write a novel bout their Team Needs……NoMoneyBall.

    1
    Reply
    • CCCTL

      8 years ago

      25M± in committed contracts next year, including arbitration. We have money, we’re saving it up for extensions on Chapman/Olson/etc.

      But, hey, the gnats are looking for FA outfielders so they can go over the CBT for a fourth year, so dodgerfans have that going for them.

      1
      Reply
  6. CCCTL

    8 years ago

    Pinder’s made a strong case for being the regular RF, Dustin Fowler’s knee rehab is going very well (he’s off crutches), and Boog Powell is an adequate 4th OF. Joyce is signed for one more year and can play RF or LF (better in LF).

    And Rajai is back with the Windians.

    1
    Reply
    • tr91065

      8 years ago

      Red Sox

      Reply
      • Realtexan

        8 years ago

        Derek Holland is the A’s answer to a staff ace pitcher plus he’s a workhorse.

        Reply
        • nste23

          8 years ago

          Except Derek holland isn’t an ace and gets hurt a lot

          1
          Reply
    • SundownDevil

      8 years ago

      They’ll dump Joyce after that atrocious slur incident this season. He’s done. Steve Clevinger couldn’t keep his mouth shut, and he’s stuck in the Atlantic League the rest of his career.

      1
      Reply
      • Antitoxidote

        8 years ago

        Wrong. He served his suspension. Everybody has moved on.
        His bat and glove play in MLB next year.

        6
        Reply
        • SundownDevil

          8 years ago

          On the contrary, it’s just beginning. His horrendous comments aren’t ones you forgive and forget, let alone accept an apology crafted via an agent. Steve Clevenger thought the same after his “apology” on Twitter, but he’s been blackballed from baseball. Joyce will pay.

          1
          Reply
        • shanedelreal12

          8 years ago

          I dont think so. I live in Oakland and there is no sign of anger with him. He apologized, donatated money and time and the A’s brought in people from the LGBT community to help get through it. He was really bad the 1st half of the season so there was no reason to keep him if they were just going to cut him.

          4
          Reply
  7. SundownDevil

    8 years ago

    The A’s need to do everything to be in on Eddie Rosario of the Twins. He has more power than Sano, more desire to stay on the field and actually play, and he’s super cheap while he approaches 30-35 home runs on a yearly basis.

    1
    Reply
    • wjf010

      8 years ago

      Rosario does not have more power than Sano. Twins aren’t trading him. They can get Kepler for the right pitching prospect, though.

      3
      Reply
      • SundownDevil

        8 years ago

        Sano has more potential power, but we don’t live in a vacuum. Until he manifests it like Rosario has (because of his work ethic which Sano lacks), it’s a nice thought, but baseball is reality. Isringhausen, Pulsipher, and Wilson didn’t pan out for the Mets, although Izzy became a good closer. Perhaps Sano will develop elsewhere as well.

        1
        Reply
  8. Phillies2017

    8 years ago

    Only issue with Lowrie: the demand for Middle Infielders is down. Lowrie, Cozart, Asdrubal Cabrera, Cesar Hernandez, Freddy Galvis, Eduardo Nunez, Alcides Escobar, Neil Walker and others are available so trading Lowrie now probably wouldnt be the best thing. They should wait for injuries to prop up next summer.

    3
    Reply
  9. cxcx

    8 years ago

    Very little of the text of (3) has anything to do with that “need” (it’s more a suggestion than a need.)

    2
    Reply
    • SundownDevil

      8 years ago

      It is Jeff Todd’s valued opinion, and he has a right to express it in with whichever words he chooses to use. Please respect others’ views.

      3
      Reply
      • OaklandKAM

        8 years ago

        It would be better if he labeled this “needed to do’s” rather than “needs”, the article doesn’t really address needs.

        1
        Reply
  10. shanedelreal12

    8 years ago

    I like Khris Davis but hes the odd man out. He cant play the OF and Healy needs to be the DH.

    2
    Reply
    • Jbigz12

      8 years ago

      Strictly because of salary. No doubt Davis is a better hitter than healy. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Healy regress a bit next year.

      Reply
      • OaklandKAM

        8 years ago

        Eh, the A’s salary commitments for next year are very low. Trading Davis basically over money would further hurt their reputation in the Bay Area. They need to build the fanbase, not erode it further.

        Reply
        • OaklandKAM

          8 years ago

          Funny to me that someone came in here and down voted all my comments but didn’t respond to one of them. Lame move.

          Reply
  11. julyn82001

    8 years ago

    The pitching is/will be fully staffed… AJ Puck and Holmes are the waiting on the winds plus Bassitt, Montas, Wahl et al just makes the A’s team very special… And Billy Beane can still use his magic to bring reinforces if deem necessary… The future is bright…

    1
    Reply
  12. jwag777 2

    8 years ago

    Don’t #2 and #3 contradict each other? Get rid of your best outfielder while patrolling other teams outfield surplus?

    Reply

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