Now here are those projections, from most to least optimistic:

CAIRO: .272/.318/.483, 3.5 WAR600

Davenport: .260/.325/.458, 3.3 WAR600

ZiPS: .265/.329/.418*, 3.2 WAR600

OLIVER: .266/.308/.447, 2.6 WAR600

*Slash-line is park adjusted.

If he reaches the lowest of these projections the first year, this will be an excellent signing. If his first year approaches 3.5 WAR, this is an absolute steal. Thoughts?

The Cespedes signing, along with the continued talk about Manny, is also interesting for what it says about how the A’s view other players on their roster. While the team seems willing to put plenty of faith in their young pitching prospects’ ability to step up and perform in the majors this season, they clearly seem reluctant to want to put much faith in most of their young hitting prospects at this point.

Our own "ace" starter shows off his wit...and his wife! on Sports Illustrated's Hot Clicks segment. Insights and opinions on Spring Training, Twitter, etc.

John Mayo just came out with his top 20 for the A's

I like most of the selections, Alcantara's rating was a little aggressive, same with the Yordy Cabrera

on the flip side, Milone's rating was a little conservative, also don't see how Vollmuth or Straily aren't on the list

It's in the ESPN Insider paywall, but it's exciting to see how high Parker, and even Cole is rated.

1. Jarrod Parker, RHP (31)
2. A.J. Cole, RHP (33)
3. Sonny Gray, RHP (73)
4. Michael Choice, OF (77)
5. Derek Norris, C (93)
6. Grant Green, CF
7. Brad Peacock, RHP
8. Raul Alcantara, RHP
9. Max Stassi, C
10. Chris Carter, 1B

View Top 100 List

Sickels did a Q&A thread in which a few A's questions were asked. Here's the 3 I saw.

On Pitching ETA's
ETAs if I am dictator
Gray: 2013 sometime
Peacock: mid-season 2012 after 10-12 Triple-A starts
Milone: April 2012
Parker: mid-season 2012 after 10-12 Triple-A starts

Brad Peacock: Do you think he can strike out 200 guys in a season and who currently in the majors could be a good comp for his upside?
No, I don’t see Peacock as a 200-K guy.

Comp…hm….have to think on that one.

Sonny Gray: Gut feeling, does he remain a SP as a big leaguer?
gut feeling: starter

Compilation of top 10 A’s prospect lists – Parker #1, Choice #2, Peacock #3 – with 4 pitchers in the top 5...

Yes, moneyball - the real version about having a true strategy based on real data for building a team and winning games - is coming to the NFL. Everyone's best buddy Bill Belichick is the leading practitioner. The rest of the hidebound, tough-guy NFL is behind MLB.

Is it a coincidence that Belichick shares the same initials as our own Dear Leader?