Spring training site
Phoenix, Ariz.
2007 record
76-86, third in AL West, 18 games behind Angels
New faces
OF Emil Brown (free agent, Royals), RHP Joey Devine (trade, Braves); LHP Dana Eveland (trade, Diamondbacks); RHP Keith Foulke (free agent, out of baseball in 2007); OF Carlos Gonzalez (trade, Diamondbacks); LHP Gio Gonzalez (trade, White Sox); LHP Greg Smith (trade, Diamondbacks); 1B Mike Sweeney (free agent, Royals); OF Ryan Sweeney (trade, White Sox)
Biggest offseason acquisition
Out of this “illustrious” group above, hmm... there are some interesting names, but the biggest ones (Mike Sweeney) might not even make the team. Foulke, who retired before spring training last year with the Indians, is attempting a comeback.
Gone but not forgotten
A young overhaul of this roster put many veterans elsewhere or out of baseball, notably pitcher Dan Haren (traded to Diamondbacks), catcher/designated hitter Mike Piazza (still a free agent), outfielder Nick Swisher (traded to White Sox) and outfielder Shannon Stewart (free agent, Blue Jays). In their place is a team that resembles a Triple-A roster in many spots.
Spring training battles
The most attention is given to the starting rotation, where Rich Harden, Justin Duchscherer and Chad Gaudin are all coming back from injuries. And the fifth spot is a wide-open race between several (Dana Eveland, Lenny DiNardo, Dallas Braden, Dan Meyer, Kirk Saarloos, Greg Smith), and this rotation could be a revolving door all season.
Projected lineup
- LF Travis Buck
- 2B Mark Ellis
- 3B Eric Chavez
- DH Jack Cust
- RF Emil Brown
- 1B Daric Barton
- SS Bobby Crosby
- C Kurt Suzuki
- CF Chris Denorfia
Projected starting rotation
- RHP Joe Blanton
- RHP Rich Harden
- RHP Justin Duchscherer
- RHP Chad Gaudin
- LHP Greg Smith or LHP Gio Gonzalez
Projected bullpen
- RHP Huston Street (closer)
- LHP Alan Embree
- RHP Andrew Brown
- RHP Santiago Casilla
- RHP Andrew Brown
- RHP Joey Devine
- RHP Keith Foulke
- LHP Kirk Saarloos
Biggest strength
The offseason trades gave the A's a lot of young arms to look at, and if a few of them can be the next Tim Hudson or Barry Zito or Dan Haren, then the trades were a big success. But the A's will take some big lumps this season. Harden, if he can ever stay healthy, is one of the best pitchers in the league.
Glaring weakness
The outfield is Triple-A caliber. The biggest baseball fan around likely couldn't name Oakland's projected starting outfield of Travis Buck, Chris Denorfia and Emil Brown, with Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Sweeney on their heels. The five of them, combined, hit 14 big-league home runs last season. If this team wins 70 games, Bob Geren deserves manager-of-the-year consideration.
