FanPost

Oakland Athletics offseason plan

Williams Offseason Plan

Arbitration-eligible (with projected salaries from MLBTR):

Write "tender" or "non-tender" after each of the following names (note: you can trade before or after tendering a contract):

  • Ike Davis, $3.8MM non-tender
  • Sam Fuld, $2.0MM non-tender
  • Jesse Chavez, $4.7MM tender
  • Josh Reddick, $7.0MM tender
  • Craig Gentry, $1.6MM non-tender
  • Danny Valencia, $3.4MM tender
  • Fernando Abad, $1.5MM tender
  • Eric Sogard, $1.7MM tender
  • Brett Lawrie, $3.9MM tender
  • Felix Doubront, $2.5MM non-tender
  • Fernando Rodriguez, $1.3MM tender
  • Jarrod Parker, $850K tender
  • A.J. Griffin, $508K (league minimum) tender
  • Evan Scribner, $700K tender

I love Ike Davis i really do hes one of my favorite players but i really don't see a place for him on the team. Mark Cahna has really shined in his starting role, and it might be best for Ike Davis to go somewhere else like the orioles for example.

Fernando Abad was a hard one hes only a year removed from being on the best relievers but i think we could just tender him a contract and then trade him with another player.

Impending free agents (re-sign, let go, or qualifying offer?):

  • Edward Mujica: Made $4.75MM in 2015 let go

Free agents

No.1 Darren O’Day(3 years 20 million). Darren would be such a great pick up for the athletics we would get an extremely consistent reliever who could immediately move into the set up role and provide stability to our bullpen.

No.2 Alex Gordon (5 years 80 million +club option for 19 million). Alex Gordon is a long shot for the small market Athletics but it would be a great signing. Alex Gordons defense is incredible and his offense is pretty good to. But the best thing about signing Alex would be because he is a great presence in the club house and hes a team leader something the Athletics really need.

No.3 Doug Fister (1 year 5 million + 2017 club option for 8 million). Doug Fister has always been a solid pitcher until this year. Even a year ago Doug Fister was a great pitcher i don't think there's anything stopping him from rediscovering his stellar form. But if he doesn't return to his old form the Athletics could just move him to the bullpen.

No.4 Ryan Madison (2 years 6 million). Ryan Madison was a great reliever with the Phillies one of the best in baseball then he got tommy john when he signed with the reds and didn't pitch for a few years. The royals took a chance on the old reliever and it worked out. He would be a good player to push to the 7th inning role.

No.5 Mark Reynolds (3 million + 3 club option for 2017 year). Mark Reynolds has a lot of value to a club. Hes a player that has been everything a team leader, a bench player, you name it. Hes a player with a good amount of defensive versatility having logged time at 1st, 3rd, left and right field.

No.6 Jerry Blevins.(2 million + club option for 4 million). Jerry was a great Athletic and would be a buy low high reward guy. The Athletics need someone who can get lefties out and Jerry Blevins can do just that. Besides he was a loved player when he played for us.

No.7 Chris Young. (2 years 12 million). Chris Young would just be a solid pitcher that could come in and pitch in the rotation or in the bullpen filling whatever need comes up. Pretty much a new Jesse Chavez.

No.8 Tim Lincecum. (Minor league contract). It would just be a good depth move and in case he finds any of his old form a potentially good move.

Trades (or player releases)

No.1 trade Jesse Chavez, Ferando Abad, Aaron Kurcz and Sean Nolin to the dodgers for Cody Bellinger and Jordan Paroubeck.

Getting those two prospects might be a bit of a stretch for the athletics but i could see it happening. The dodgers are a team that needs bullpen help, and Jesse Chavez would be the perfect player for that. He could step into their rotation or just become a dominant reliever for them. The dodgers have already expressed an interest in Chavez during the season so i doubt much has changed.

Sean Nolin is a pitcher who i could see being great it would suck to see him go but Cody Bellinger has immense upside even though he's a few years away. The Dodgers Gm was apart of the Oakland As front office when Abad was good so i could see him being interested in him as well.

Cody Bellinger is a potential star, he has pure power to all fields and is an excellent hitter. He could be a guy who hits 30+ home runs a year when he hits the majors. Hes a strong fielder at first base and can play all three outfield positions. He gets to aggressive and tends to strikeout a lot, he struck out 150 times this year.

Jordan Paroubeck is a player who could be an overall solid player. He could hit for a solid average, decent power and be a solid fielder. Hes still an incredibly raw player but could become a very solid player once he reaches the major league.

Getting Cody Bellinger for Chavez could be a stretch but the dodgers are a team who needs immediate help and Chavez would not be as expansive as other players who are not nearly as good. Plus Abad and Kurcz could immediately step into the bullpen while Sean Nollin could go into the rotation.

No.2 Danny Valencia to the Chicago Whitesox for Jake Peter and Adam Engel.

The Athletics don't need Danny Valencia but the Whitesox do. 3rd base is a black hole for the Whitesox, so i think the As could net a couple solid prospects out of the deal. The Whitesox are a team committed to the competing this season so a win now trade in Danny Valencia is very likely.

Jake peter is an exciting prospect. Hes a solid hitter with gap power. But the best thing about Jake is his ability to get on base, something the Atheltics love. Hes an average runner who could steal a decent amount of bases in the major league level.

Adam Engel is a prospect who i could see being great, but the only problem is that he doesn't have a feel for hitting. If he can fix his swing he could become a great player. Hes a solid defender but the thing that stands out most about him is his speed. Hes an incredibly fast player and if he could get on base would become one of the best lead off hitters in baseball. He did steal 65 bases this year in the minors.

Both of these prospects are atleast 2-3 years away from arriving in the majors at the earliest, but i think it would be a great trade for the Athletics.

Trade.3 Coco Crisp and Aaron Brooks for Angel Pagan.

This would be nothing more then a salary dump, Coco Crisp was a great Athletic and i love him hes one of my favorite players but i think its just time for him to go. We would swap bad contracts while giving the giants a player who has a chance to be a solid pitcher. We would get one year of paying for Pagan and the giants would get one year of paying for Coco Crisp plus his buyout.

Coco Crisp is a player who is just not good anymore hes old and broken down also hes expansive for a small market club. Angel Pagan could play as a back up outfielder for the As or we could immediately trade him to another team. It would give two players fresh starts and would be good for both teams.

Also the giants need someone who can come off the bench and get a big hit Coco Crisp can do just that. His salary is a little expansive for one year but it would allow the giants to pursue a much more valuable left fielder such as Justin Upton.

Trade.4 Angel Pagan + 3 million in cash to the San Diego Padres for Jose Castillo.

The Padres need someone who could play center field and angel pagan can do just that. He could also lead off for the padres and fix a hole in that regard as well. If Angel Pagan can stay healthy it would be a pretty solid trade for the Padres.

Jose Castillo is a pitcher that has barely pitched in the minors due to injuries but has potential to be a great pitcher, and hes young hes only 19 years old. A.J. Preller is an aggressive Gm who would be very willing to trade away the future for the win now player.

Summary

I could see the As picking up a few relievers from the waiver wire, during the off season. I made the off season that put veteran leaders on the team in the outfield in the rotation and in the bullpen. This would give the As a winning presence on field and off the field. It would restore faith in the franchise and the fan base. I think we should give Joey Wendle every opportunity to stick in the big leagues next season and if he does not work out we could pick up a Chase Utley type player or trade for one. So we end up with a very strong Bullpen and a rotation full of promise that could us hopes of competing next season. Eric Sogard and Mark Reynolds could provide solid depth in the in field while Jake would become the forth outfielder. This team would be loaded with strong veterans and a promising young staff. Mark Cahna could step into the outfield when needed as well.

vs. LHP vs. RHP Rotation Rest of 40-man Other AAA prospects
C Josh Phegley Stephen Vogt SP1 Sonny Gray SP6 A.J. Griffin 1B/LF Matt Olson
1B Mark Canha Mark Canha SP2 Doug Fister SP7 Jarrod Parker 2B/SS Chad Pinder
2B Joey Wendle Joey Wendle SP3 Jesse Hahn SP8 Tim Lincecum OF Jaycob Brugman
3B Brett Lawrie Brett Lawrie SP4 Chris Bassitt SP9 Arnold Leon 3B/1B Ryon Healy
SS Marcus Semien Marcus Semien SP5 Kendall Gravemen SP10 Raul Alcantara SP Sean Manaea
LF Alex Gordan Alex Gordan Bullpen RP8 Ryan Dull SP Dillon Overton
CF Billy Burns Billy Burns RP1 Sean Doolittle RP9 Daniel Coulombe
RF Josh Reddick Josh Reddick RP2 Drew Pomeranz RP10 Dan Otero
DH Billy Butler Billy Butler RP3 DarrenO'Day RP11 R.J. Alvarez
Bench RP4 Ryan Madison Util Tyler Ladendorf
BN1 Stephen Vogt Josh Phegley RP5 Chris Young 2B Chad Pinder
BN2 Jake Smolinski Jake Smolinski RP6 Jerry Blevins 3B/1B Renato Nunez
BN3 Mark Reynolds Marks Reynolds RP7 Evan Scribner 1B/3B Rangel Ravelo
BN4 Eric Sogard Eric Sogard C Carson Blair
INF Max Muncy