Athletics Offseason

[kramnoj]

Here are the 2009 commitments for the A's

 

Chavez 3B $11M

Crosby SS $5.25M

Street RP Arby $4-6M?

Duchsherer SP Arby $3-4m?

Cust LF Arby $3-4M?

Buck OF Pre-Arby $.5M

Casilla RP Pre-Arby $.5M

Denorfia OF Pre-Arby $.5M

Brown RP Pre-Arby $.5M

Eveland SP Pre-Arby $.5M

Hannahan 3B Pre-Arby $.5M

Suzuki C Pre-Arby $.5M

Sweeney RF Pre-Arby $.5M

Barton 1B Pre-Arby $.5M

Braden SP/RP Pre-Arby $.5M

Devine RP Pre-Arby $.5M

Gallagher SP Pre-Arby $.5M

Carlos Gonzalez CF Pre-Arby $.5M

Gio Gonzalez SP/RP Pre-Arby $.5M

Ziegler RP Pre-Arby $.5M

 

So I count at least $35 Million for 20 players. Some of those reserve OF could go to other players, but the cost would be the same.

 

The A's opening day payroll was just under $48M this year, so it looks like they have room to spend.

 

Needs: SP. They could really use some help here, they went with a lot of young talent that didn't work out yet. I don't see Beane signing any long term commitments, but I could definitely see someone getting a Lohse-type 1 year deal.

2B. Ellis is a FA. Eric Patterson has had decent numbers in AAA but hasn't shown it in the majors yet. Do the A's bring Ellis back for a year, or go cheap and young with Patterson?

CF? They didn't get much offensive production here. Do they look for a veteran stopgap and let the kids get some seasoning in the minors, or just let the kids play and get big league experience?

1B? Barton really struggled at the plate. Same situation as above.

 

Could be an interesting offseason for the A's. They could try to mix and match cheap veterans or just stick with the youth, have a payroll of around $40M and position themselves for 2010 and beyond.

[TuesdaysWithRillo]

Isn't their farm system among the best in baseball?

[piccione88]

I actually think that pitching is one of the strengths of the A's, that Beane may be looking to move some of his pitchers this off-season. The A's are right on the verge of being a powerhouse with all of the prospects they picked up this year, esspecially pitchers.

 

The A's have in my opinion one of the best young pitching prospects in the game in Vince Mazzaro. Mazzaro has a great sinking fastball, and slider, he posted an ERA of 1.90, in over 137 innings in AA midland this year, while only walking 36 and striking out 104. The best thing about Mazzaro is that he did not give up homeruns this year he only gave up 3 homeruns in 137 innings. On top of Mazzaro and the guys you mentioned like Eveland, and Gio Gonzalez, the A's have Brett Anderson, James Simmons, Trevor Cahill their organizational pitcher of the year, and Joshua Outman could all help the big club next year.

 

I see the A's looking more for some up the middle help esspecially if Ellis leaves, and a DH that can play 3B since Chavez cannot be counted on. However I agree with you that they might go after a 1 year deal type pitcher, to bridge the gap. I just hope he is not an injured player, because this injured players are undervalued philosophy Beane has going does not seem to be working.

[kramnoj]

According to ESPN: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3651897 Ellis is coming back with the A's.