The Oakland A’s could look a bit different in 2015, dependent on how the postseason plays out.
If the team doesn’t make the playoffs at all, general manager Billy Beane could put everyone in cleats on the trade block. If they win the World Series, Beane may feel that after capturing that elusive ring, one in Oakland is good enough and recommit to the farm system.
If, however, the team barely falls short of a World Series win, management could keep the roster intact. With Beane at the helm, you just never know.
Let’s be realistic and go somewhere in the middle.
The A’s make the playoffs and win the one-game, sudden-death Wild Card Game to move on. Then, unfortunately, they lose in either the ALDS or ALCS—which round they exit doesn’t matter in this scenario.
Again, it’s hard to read Beane, but he’s shown in the past that he’s more inclined to accumulate prospects and keep the payroll down than he is to sign stars.
That said, you would see the same mix of cheap, young players, cheaply signed veteran free agents and a stud or two.
Based on that, here are the positions that could have new starters in 2015.
Left Field
Currently, Jonny Gomes and Sam Fuld split time in left field.
Gomes is a free agent at the end of the 2014 season. Once with Oakland, he left in free agency after the 2012 season in search of more playing time. If he left once because he doesn’t care for platooning, not much should stop him from doing so again.
This time, however, it might be mutual.
Gomes didn’t provide the spark and magic that he did during 2012. Another club will likely try to sign him to bring in positive clubhouse presence for a budding team at a price the A’s are reluctant to even attempt matching.
Fuld may stay on in Oakland, but if he does, it should be more as a fourth outfielder rather than a platoon starter.
Here’s how the outfield should play out: Coco Crisp and Josh Reddick stay in center and right field, respectively. Craig Gentry returns to full health and becomes the everyday starter in left field. Gentry will be arbitration eligible but won’t cost more than $3 million, and he played well enough that if the team is looking to move forward on the cheap, Gentry is more than serviceable.
That keeps Fuld as the fourth guy and the outfield as speedy, defensive specialists.
If the A’s do kick the tires on a few veteran players, guys like Chris Denorfia, Reed Johnson or Grady Sizemore would probably be the biggest names considered, assuming the team keeps that salary toward the lower end of the scale per the norm.
But if they just miss in playoffs and want to make a bigger splash, why not bring back Seth Smith or Josh Willingham?
Starting Pitcher
Jon Lester will be one of the biggest free-agent names available. I will set Oakland’s chances of re-signing Lester at less than 1 percent. He will command way too much money for the Athletics to compete.
And if there’s anyone on the current team the A’s could trade, it’s Jeff Samardzija.
He’s yet to turn 30, he’s talented and he’s still controllable for another full season before becoming a free agent. This is the same guy that landed the Chicago Cubs two top prospects from Oakland. You can guarantee someone will call about Samardzija this offseason. You can also bet Beane will listen and contemplate restocking the minor league system.
Jason Hammel will not be re-signed, or at least shouldn’t be, due to a poor performance.
So two, possibly three, starting pitchers will be gone.
That leaves Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir, a returning Jarrod Parker and a returning A.J. Griffin. Multiple names could once again compete for the fifth spot, including Jesse Chavez.
At the minimum, you’ll see Parker and Griffin, new faces—sort of.
As for that final spot, if it’s not a guy like Chavez, there’s one of two options. First, the A’s typically always sign a veteran reclamation project. But they usually keep one at a time, and Kazmir is that guy currently. Names like Colby Lewis, Kevin Correia or Chris Capuano might work if an addition is made.
The alternative route is promoting someone from Triple-A. The best option is Arnold Leon. Leon went 10-8 with the Sacramento River Cats in 2014, with a 4.97 ERA. He struck out 128 and walked 51.
What About Second Base or Shortstop?
I don’t think second base or shortstop will change.
Jed Lowrie and the A’s still seem to be a good match. The team needs someone it can get on the cheap to continue as a stopgap until an up-and-coming prospect is ready. Lowrie has had a down year, making him much more affordable.
Teams will likely swoop in on Asdrubal Cabrera, Hanley Ramirez and J.J. Hardy first. Jimmy Rollins may even go off the market before Lowrie, pushing his stock down more.
Beane showed fans that second base clearly was not a priority this season. Instead, he concentrated on pitching at the trade deadline.
Nick Punto has an option, Alberto Callaspo is a free agent and the team still has Eric Sogard. Additionally, Oakland has Andy Parrino. Callaspo is the most expensive at around $4 million. All other options are extremely cheap. The A’s, typically, are also extremely cheap.
Second base clearly isn’t a need, so the team will probably hold onto the current options—much to the dismay of fans.
Final Thoughts
Beane may listen to phone calls about Crisp, Reddick and Brandon Moss, but I don’t see him moving any of them. The returns wouldn’t be worth too much due to various reasons (age or talent).
For giggles, let’s say Beane does sell off all of Oakland’s assets and goes back to disappointingly cheap ways again.
Nate Freiman takes over first base. Sogard stays at second. Parrino starts at shortstop. Callaspo plays third base full time. Gentry starts in center field. Fuld would probably still be the fourth outfielder, with Shane Peterson coming up from Triple-A to play in left field. Let’s say Reed Johnson (or another cheap-but-older free agent) is signed to play right field. Your starting rotation is Parker, Griffin, Leon, Chavez and a cheaply renewed Drew Pomeranz (arbitration eligible) or a super-cheap veteran.
The above scenario assumes Brandon Moss, Josh Donaldson, Sonny Gray, Kazmir, Crisp and Reddick are all traded. Lowrie is not re-signed either.
Again, this is worst-case scenario. I don’t see this happening either.
Ultimately, Samardzija is the most likely to be traded—no one else. Lowrie will be re-signed, and Lester, Hammel and Gomes will leave via free agency.
(You might have noticed I didn’t mention catchers at all. I think all three stay: Derek Norris as the starter, Stephen Vogt as the backup and John Jaso as the full-time designated hitter.)
For the most part, you should see just about the same team on the field in 2015.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com