Oakland A’s trades and free agency: Roundup of potential targets

It’s the offseason! And the MLB Winter Meetings are starting in a few days! That means it’s time to look around at the dozens of players available on the free agent and trade markets, and imagine what they would look like wearing green and gold.

This is a roundup of all the notable names available this winter (including those who have already settled on new homes). Of course, these are the A’s we’re talking about, so the actual real-life acquisitions they end up with are quite likely to be either someone we hadn’t heard of or someone we didn’t know was available, or possibly even someone who plays another sport but puts incredible spin on whatever type of ball he currently plays with. You never know! That’s part of the fun.

Here are the names, separated into some larger categories. The list is based off the FanGraphs Top 50, with some extra ones added in. Athletics Nation has written profiles on many of these players, and there are more on the way in the coming days, so the ones with writeups have links next to them.

IMPORTANT NOTE: These are not actual rumors. The A’s haven’t been publicly connected to any players, really, which isn’t unusual for them. They were briefly connected to Eric Thames, but he signed elsewhere. I guess they’re connected to Matt Joyce now, contractually. What follows is a list, put together by fans, of the names that exist in this world for the A’s to consider.

Center Fielders

Also see: CF targets roundup

Key Trade Targets

• Kevin Kiermaier, TB (link)
• Ender Inciarte, ATL (link)
• Mallex Smith, ATL (traded to TB)
• Billy Hamilton, CIN (link)
• Dalton Pompey, TOR (link)
• Jarrod Dyson, KC (link) (A’s RUMOR!) (nope, traded to SEA)

Other Trade Targets

• Andrew McCutchen, PIT (Slusser’s not buying it)
• Charlie Blackmon, COL (link)
• Marcell Ozuna, MIA
• A.J. Pollock, ARI (link)
• Adam Eaton, CHW (traded to WAS)
• Trayce Thompson, LAD
• Andrew Toles, LAD
• Brian Goodwin, WAS (link)
• Michael Taylor, WAS (link)
• Kirk Nieuwenhuis, MIL (link)

Free Agents

• Dexter Fowler (link) (signed)
• Carlos Gomez (link) (signed)
• Rajai Davis (signed by A’s!) (analysis)
• Jon Jay (signed)

The remaining players are free agents unless otherwise specified.

Lefty Outfielders

• Josh Reddick (link) (signed) (Astros analysis)
• Brandon Moss (link)
• Matt Joyce (link) (signed by A’s!) (analysis)
• Michael Saunders (link)
• Colby Rasmus
• Brett Gardner, NYY (trade candidate)
• Jay Bruce, NYM (trade candidate)
• Carlos Gonzalez, COL (trade candidate) (link)

Other Lefty Hitters

• Eric Thames (link) (signed)
• Luis Valbuena
• Kendrys Morales (signed)
• Pedro Alvarez

Catchers

In case Stephen Vogt is traded.

• Kurt Suzuki
• Chris Iannetta
• A.J. Ellis (signed)

Veteran Starters

• Rich Hill (link) (signed)
• Ivan Nova (signed)
• Edinson Volquez (signed)
• Jason Hammel
• Derek Holland (signed)
• Doug Fister
• Colby Lewis
• Bartolo Colon (signed)
• R.A. Dickey (signed)
• Andrew Cashner (signed)
• Trevor Cahill (starting again?)

Veteran Relievers

• Mark Melancon (link) (signed) (eww, Giants)
• Greg Holland
• Brad Ziegler (link) (signed)
• Brett Cecil (signed)
• Joe Blanton
• Jonathan Papelbon
• Daniel Hudson (signed)
• Travis Wood

Players I Omitted

Too expensive: OF Yoenis Cespedes (signed), LHP Aroldis Chapman (signed), OF Jose Bautista, RHP Kenley Jansen (signed), OF Carlos Beltran (signed)

Bad roster fit: DH Edwin Encarnacion (A’s RUMOR!) (nope, signed), 3B Justin Turner (signed), C Matt Wieters, DH Mark Trumbo (A’s RUMOR!), C Jason Castro (signed), 1B Mike Napoli, C Wilson Ramos (signed), 1B Steve Pearce (signed), SS Erick Aybar, 1B Chris Carter

Meh: RHP Sergio Romo, RHP Santiago Casilla (signed by A’s!), RHP Koji Uehara (signed), OF Angel Pagan, 2B Chase Utley

This post will be updated as the offseason progresses. Last update: Jan. 13, 10:30 a.m. PT.