The Oakland Athletics have a lot of work to do this off-season. What changes must they make to get back in contention?
The 2016 season was a rough one for the Oakland Athletics. Instead of contending, the A’s spent the second half of the year setting themselves up for the future.
The team’s poor start meant that buyer-seller debate at the trade deadline was an easy decision. The Athletics dealt starter Rich Hill and outfielder Josh Reddick to the Dodgers in July. They received a trio of young right-handers in exchange. That move should bolster their rotation for years to come.
Next season, Sonny Gray will almost certainly reprise his role as the team’s ace, putting 2016 firmly in the rearview mirror. Kendall Graveman is set to return, as are prospects Sean Manaea, Jharel Cotton and Daniel Mengden. Even starter Chris Bassitt, who missed most of the year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, should be back mid-season to shore up the A’s pitching staff.
So what do the Oakland Athletics’ need to do this winter?
General manager David Forst will answer that question, presumably with some heavy input from Billy Beane. The A’s have already started their roster revamp, by outrighting a dozen players to Triple-A this week. Many of those players will find major league jobs elsewhere, leaving the A’s with a lot of work to do.
In addition to dealing Reddick and Hill at the deadline, the A’s lost several other key players this season. They released their designated hitter, Billy Butler, and dealt long-time outfielder Coco Crisp to the Cleveland Indians.
Butler may not have been much of an asset to the Athletics, but he does leave a roster spot to fill. Crisp, who has been nagged by injuries the last season, still provided plenty of value to the A’s when healthy.
The A’s minor league system is stocked, but not well-stocked enough to replace all of those players without a little help from the free agent market.
It’s sure to be a busy off-season for the Oakland front office, but what are the five biggest needs right now?