With Astros looking vulerable, A’s see a chance in AL West
The Houston Astros, the team that has relegated the A’s to wildcard status, aren’t unbeatable after all. Maybe the American League West really can make a westward shift in 2020.
The A’s are poised. Their roster is pretty much set. Most of the 12 arbitration-eligible players are likely to be tendered contracts. A few, such as Blake Treinen and Jurickson Profar, are on the bubble.
The position players are returning to their posts, including the three slugging Gold Glovers on the infield. The rotation has superpower potential with phenoms Jesus Luzardo and A.J. Puk joining Frankie Montas, Sean Manaea and Mike Fiers.
So what do the A’s need to take their best shot at the Astros, a team that has won 100-plus games the last three years?
LEFT HANDED RELIEVERS — OR MORE RELIEVERS IN GENERAL >> The decision to decline Jake Diekman’s $5.5 million option increases the need for bullpen lefties. If the A’s do not tender Ryan Bucther a contract (only a possibility), the bullpen is entirely right-handed as of today: Yusmeiro Petit, Joakim Soria, Liam Hendriks (arbitration), Chris Bassitt (arbitration) and Lou Trivino.
Not a left-hander in the bunch. Luzardo and Puk filled those roles upon their call-ups late in the 2019 season, but they will be essential pieces in the rotation.
The A’s have a lot of pitchers in the system that project as starters: James Kaprelian, Grant Holmes, Daulton Jefferies. Jharel Cotton (if tendered a contract) and Bassitt could move easily into the bullpen, providing the building blocks for a potential piggy-back style pitching strategy for the season.
THE A’S SHOULD ADD MORE PITCHING DEPTH IN FREE AGENCY >> Homer Bailey, Brett Anderson and Tanner Roark will be free agents. Anderson would be a solid addition to the pitching staff if he accepted a bullpen role, piggybacking or just out of long relief. The left-hander had perhaps one of the best seasons of his career, accumulating a 3.89 ERA in 31 games (176 innings).
In free agency, left-hander Drew Pomeranz could be an option to sign a short-term deal. The 30-year-old former Athletic is coming off a decent season with the Giants and Milwaukee Brewers. He had a 2.39 ERA in 26 innings with the Brewers. Pomeranz is a starter by trade, but came out of the bullpen, which adds to his appeal as a positionally flexible option.
A Pomeranz-like pitcher — one that can pitch multiple innings, perhaps out of the bullpen — might be the type of player the A’s search for this offseason, via free agency or a wacky trade we cannot predict. SECOND BASE >> With Profar likely on the outs after an up-and-down season, second base could be a place for the A’s to find some upgrades out of house.
Then again, the in-house options are plentiful and promising. Franklin Barreto, Jorge Mateo and Sheldon Neuse are all highly regarded within the organization. Neuse, a natural third baseman, picked up second base quickly in his 25 games there last season.
Mateo and Baretto are both worth an extended look in the big leagues. Baretto struggled with a .123 average in 23 games. Mateo has yet to make his debut. Both are out of minor league options, so it’s possible one or both are not on the big-league roster come opening day. One could be trade bait, even, given the infield depth in front and behind them.
So, this could be an opportunity to add another left-handed bat to the lineup, for security behind the young ones. There are some veteran options available, possibly for cheap. The A’s could attempt a reunion with either Eric Sogard or Ben Zobrist. Reality: Zobrist is 38, and Sogard, given his 2.6 WAR, he could be too pricey for the role.
Or maybe a Scooter Gennett, the 2018 All Star who finished last season out of the majors after his cup of coffee with the Giants? There aren’t many second base options on the market for cheap. LEFT-HANDED HITTING OUTFIELDER >> The A’s have one left-handed bat in the everyday lineup. Matt Olson. With Olson and the infield all but locked up, the outfield could be a prime spot to add a left-handed hitter to the rotation.
Seth Brown emerged in the late season as a possible platoon option. He hit 37 home runs in the minors, but has yet to hit one in the majors. Still, he had 13 RBIS in 75 at-bats.
Stephen Piscotty’s team-friendly contract (two years left at $5.5 million with an option for 2023) could be enticing to a team looking to trade. Ramon Laureano and Mark Canha would comprise two-thirds of the infield, with left field open.
Switch-hitting Robbie Grossman had a breakout season worthy of a Gold Glove finalist after making a minor adjustment to his stance He is arbitration eligible, and could be a simple answer in left field if the A’s find another place to add lefthanded hitting.
Among left field options on the open market, the A’s could add speed with Billy Hamilton or Jarrod Dyson, though both might be on the pricey side. Or the A’s could break with tradition and open the vault for Marcell Ozuna or Yasiel Puig.
They could also pick up a Kole Calhoun or, of course, swing an unknown in a wacky trade.
SO >> The A’s not only have a lot of parts in place, but also — health permitting — will have a rotation with superpower potential: Luzardo, Puk, Montas, Manaea and Fiers.
Not many additions are necessary, but with approximately $80 million penciled into the books for 2020 (including possible arbitration contracts), the A’s have room to dip into the free agent market — preferably for lefties with arm or bat.