FanPost

The 40-Man Roster, Ranked: Part I

Jennifer Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

I feel like ranking the 40 players currently on the roster, just for fun. So over the next who-knows-how-long, I will be ranking them from 1-40. We will start with numbers 1 through 10 in this post.

But before we begin, I want to take a moment to acknowledge our lone member of the 60-day disabled list.

JARROD PARKER

We all know the story. Two Tommy John surgeries, two broken medial epicondyles. Parker was a key part of the legendary 2012 Oakland Athletics, and we should all have nothing but respect for his work with the A's. Additionally, I am hereby announcing that I am willing to donate my right medial epicondyle to Jarrod Parker. Lemme know if he asks for it. It's been real, Jarrod.

OVERALL GRADE: A 40 to be spilled upon the curb.

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Now, the list.

1. SONNY GRAY

He is really REALLY good, you guys. The 2011 first-rounder has established himself as an ultra-competitive workhorse who will be making his third consecutive Opening Day start next week. The only question with him is, of course, how long the A's hold on to him. I'm sure Billy Beane would love nothing more than to have Sonny Gray start Game 1 of the World Series in Oakland each of the next two Octobers. Even if that doesn't happen, he's still one of the most valuable commodities in the game, and probably the single most valuable semi-viable trade candidate, given his placement on the constantly-shuffling Oakland A's.

Interest in him was reported to have been immense this past winter, but the A's held tight and kept Gray at the top of the rotation for 2016. With an arbitration raise due next season, here's hoping Gray leads the staff capably in 2016, from whence we'll go wherever we shall go. He's very good and very important to the franchise.

OVERALL GRADE: The Hope Diamond

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2. JOSH REDDICK

The right fielder is entering his walk year. He evolved from a streaky, pull-happy hitter in 2012-2013 into a contact-oriented spray hitter in 2015. Really the only consistent contributor to the team over the past four seasons, he's almost evolved into the face of the franchise. Like A's baseball as a whole, it hasn't always been pretty, but for better or worse he's been one of The Guys of the Beane era.

He is very polarizing, but Billy Beane seems to love him. In that way, he is like early-90s Britpop.

OVERALL GRADE: Noel Gallagher

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3. STEPHEN VOGT

An inspiring story, a good man, and a very good catcher. Vogt was acquired for little more than a song prior to the 2013 season, and he ended that same year with some playoff heroics. An all-star in 2015, he has developed into an offensive force behind the plate. Dude is tough as nails, as well. Most players would have retired after that testicle shot he took late last year. Good heavens. I still have nightmares about watching that.

Additionally, he looks like Walter Sobchak.

OVERALL GRADE: The Complete Coen Brothers Collection

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4. KHRIS DAVIS

One of the newest A's, Davis comes to us by way of Milwaukee. The 28-year old has carved out a useful career as a slugging right handed hitter with middling OBP and defensive skills. I have never actually watched him play baseball before, save for some limited spring training time this year, so I will now just copy and paste something Ray Fosse asked him on a broadcast earlier this month.

You know the one thing about American League, and maybe something’s gonna change towards the end of, uh, well after this year the collective bargaining agreement as far as the DH. National League, zero. You don’t unless there’s an interleague game in an American League park, but you’re DH tonight. How- what has Bob Melvin said to you about as far as playing maybe rotating at times to get you off your feet and DHing. How much will that help as far as, knowing that in the American League at least can keep your bat in the lineup, but you don’t necessarily have to go to the outfield?

OVERALL GRADE: An unopened present.

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5. DANNY VALENCIA

Our fifth-best player was a waiver claim last season, and he ended up being one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dreadful year. Largely used as a platoon bat prior to 2015, he mashed both lefties and righties last season. The Brett Lawrie trade opened up third base for Valencia, and he will have every opportunity to prove himself in 2016.

OVERALL GRADE: Valencia Orange flavored Starbucks Refreshers that we used to have in the break room at my office

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6. MARCUS SEMIEN

The starting shortstop, acquired in the Jeff Samardzija trade, has value at the plate. He may have value in the field. That remains to be seen. As literally every commenter on this site will tell you, his defense really improved after Ron Washington was brought back into the organization.

OVERALL GRADE: The kid who dressed up as Ron Washington for Halloween.

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7. CHRIS COGHLAN

How's this for a fact? Chris Coghlan has amassed more WAR over the past two seasons than Josh Reddick. Another recent acquisition, Coghlan was acquired in exchange for Aaron Brooks after the Cubs re-signed Dexter Fowler early in Spring Training. Coghlan is a pure left-hand-hitting platoon bat, who can play nearly anywhere on the diamond. Kind of like a Ben Zobrist-type. Could be our Zobrist.

OVERALL GRADE: Brad Miller

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8. SEAN DOOLITTLE

The lone remaining arm of the crucial 2012 A's bullpen, Doolittle doubles as the longest-tenured player in the organization. He was drafted as a first baseman in 2007, and his transition to the bullpen has been a pretty unique success. He missed most of last year with shoulder problems. He is a very good relief pitcher and he is under contract through 2018, at which point he will be the longest-tenured A's position player since Eric Chavez spent 14 years in the organization.

La la loved by many A's fans. The bullpen was truly debased by his absence last season. Just a horrid wave of mutilation took place in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings last season. Honestly, 2015 was the worst A's season since before Mr. Grieve patrolled left field.

OVERALL GRADE: Throwing Muses

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9. BILLY BURNS

The lightning rod centerfielder played his way into the starting lineup in 2015 and never looked back. He made improvements at the plate, batting near .300 for much of the season and feasting on first pitch fastballs. He's fast, he swings a lot. His game is swing-early-run-fast. As a leadoff hitter, he didn't draw a ton of walks. But he fits the prototype of a Billy Martin-era leadoff hitter. Because he's fast. Back in those days, speed took precedence over OBP for leadoff hitters.

He's fast as lightning, and kind of a throwback to a time in our past when we were less enlightened on certain topics. You look back at the old days and wonder "wow, how was that ever considered okay?" Like, some stuff from that era DEFINITELY wouldn't be considered okay today.

OVERALL GRADE: Speedy Gonzales

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10. KENDALL GRAVEMAN

Graveman was a trendy pick for Rookie of the Year this time last season. Things didn't work out for Graveman in 2015, but he showed flashes of effectiveness. The rotation being the question mark that it is, it's definitely imperative for Graveman to be healthy and effective all season if the A's plan on competing. There's still time for the pitcher the A's traded for to show up.

We don't need to talk about how he was acquired. It doesn't matter! Nothing matters! I want to forget! If he wins the 2016 Cy Young, we'll never have to feel bad about it again! You can do it, Kendall.

OVERALL GRADE: The memory eraser from Men In Black

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P.S. here are some good songs I listened to while writing this:

Debaser by The Pixies

Acquiesce by Oasis

Just Dropped In by Kenny Rogers

Men In Black by Will Smith