2008 Record: 75-86
Key Additions:
Matt Holliday (OF)
Jason Giambi (1B/DH)
Michael Wuertz (RP)
Key Losses:
Alan Embree (RP)
Frank Thomas (DH)
Projected Lineup:
1 Mark Ellis (2B)
2 Ryan Sweeney (CF)
3 Matt Holliday (LF)
4 Jason Giambi (DH)
5 Eric Chavez (3B)
6 Jack Cust (RF)
7 Daric Barton (1B)
8 Kurt Suzuki (C)
9 Bobby Crosby (SS)
This is a much improved lineup with the additions of Holliday and Giambi. A lot of people are over looking Giambi, but he still is a consistent HR threat and will add some protection for Holliday. The question is how long with the A's keep Holliday, as he is a free agent at the end of the year. Still, if the A's can get something out of Daric Barton, and Bobby Crosby this could be a very good lineup.
Projected Rotation:
1 Justin Duchscherer
2 Dana Eveland
3 Sean Gallagher
4 Gio Gonzalez
5 Dallas Braden
CL Brad Ziegler
Not a very good rotation. Duchscherer was awesome in the first half of last year, but then did what he does every year and went down with an injury. The rest of the rotation is very unproven. The good news is that their bullpen is shaping up to be good, and they have a lot of young pitching coming up through the minors.
Minors Watch:
Trevor Cahill - Pitcher of the year for the A's minor league system over the past two years. The kid is going to be a stud. he still could be a year away, but I think we will see him during the 2nd half of this year.
Brett Anderson - A lot of scouts actually put Anderson over Cahill, but in the end it won't matter both these guys will find a spot in the rotation by 2010.
Chris Carter - He can't play the field, and will probably be a DH, but this kid has serious power. He his 39 HRs last year in the minors.
Overall:
The A's are a year or two away from being a dangerous team. A lot of what they do this season hangs on what they do with Holliday. Still, with the Angels not making themselves better in the offseason, the A's could make the race for the division a lot closer then people would have thought.
Record: 82-80
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