Predicting the Final 2016 AL West Standings
5. Oakland Athletics
Key additions: SP Henderson Alvarez, 1B Yonder Alonso, INF Jed Lowrie, RP John Axford, RP Ryan Madson
Key departures: 3B Brett Lawrie, RP Drew Pomeranz, SP Jesse Chavez
Strength: Bullpen
Weakness: Defense
The ever affable Oakland Athletics will have another tough go in 2016. With some of Billy Beane’s recent transactions, it would appear he doesn’t expect the team to compete for relevancy in the AL West this year.
Despite playing in a decidedly pitcher friendly ballpark, Oakland had the worst fielding percentage of any team in MLB in 2015 with a .979 mark. What’s worse, teams’ strongest assets with a mitt are usually supposed to play shortstop, but Marcus Semien was anything but stout. He led all big league shortstops with 35 errors and an ugly .947 FPCT. He did not help out much on offense either, slashing only .257/.310/.405 and finishing second on the A’s in strikeouts.
Lowrie could very well platoon with Semien and his short leash at SS with Eric Sogard seeing additional starts at second, or the A’s may just swap Semien and Lowrie’s positions altogether. Lowrie played mostly third base in Houston last year, but he’ll provide capable insurance to the infield.
Elsewhere around the bases, Danny Valencia was great in between Toronto and Oakland in 2015, but historically has struggled against righties with a career .237 BA compared to a .321 clip versus lefties. That, and at 31, Valencia has only once registered more than 350 at-bats in his career as he’s traditionally just been depth on the bench.
At first base, where normally a team wants power at the plate, the A’s acquired Alonso from San Diego. He’s never hit better than .282 with nine home runs in a full season at Petco Park. At 28, there’s no reason to think he will suddenly find a power stroke at O.co Coliseum. For close to an $11.7 million salary in 2016, DH Billy Butler will need to improve drastically on his 2015 line of .251-15-65. Catcher Stephen Vogt was a pleasant surprise in baseball’s first half last season. He was named to his first career All-Star Game, but slumped mightily in the second half (.217-4-15).
The outfield should be a bright spot for Oakland in 2016. Coco Crisp needs to stay healthy, Billy Burns in center is an exciting young talent and the A’s were able to ink veteran right fielder Josh Reddick to a one year deal in the offseason.
It’s no secret the A’s biggest chip they hold is ace pitcher Sonny Gray. Though not set to be a free agent until 2020, deciding whether to trade him for more pieces in the future will be a constant battle Beane has with himself in the coming years. Alvarez won’t be ready for Opening Day, but Jesse Hahn and Kendall Graveman both showed flashes of valuable production in 2015.
In the bullpen, a healthy Sean Doolittle should return and backend an apt group of relievers comprised of newcomers Madson, Axford, Liam Hendriks and Marc Rzepczynski.
Next: Fourth Place