Major Additions: Santiago Casilla, Trevor Plouffe, Matt Joyce, Rajai Davis
Major Losses: Danny Valencia
Strengths: Depth
Weaknesses: Offensive Core
Potential Breakout Stars: Jharel Cotton, Renato Nunez, Matt Olson, Bobby Wahl
The A's aren't expecting to compete, but they won't be short on personnel at any position this year. This balanced team has no truly standout players, every player at every position is at least capable, and that's all you can ask from a rebuilding team. Khris Davis and Marcus Semien bring the power after blasting 42 and 27 home runs, respectively, in their breakout seasons last year. Newcomer Matt Joyce was an on-base machine last year (.403 OBP), Rajai Davis can still fly (43 stolen bases at age 35 last year), and Stephen Vogt provides a more than adequate amount of offense for a catcher (.251/.305/.406, 93 wRC+). Ryon Healy came out of nowhere last season and slashed .305/.337/.524 (134 wRC+) over 72 games, and the big swinging corner infielder will look to repeat that this season. In terms of this year's Healy for the A's, you could look to Renato Nunez or Matt Olson, two power bats who earned brief call-ups last season. Though the two combined for an ugly .111/.256/.139 slash line over 20 games, Olson showed some promise by walking more times than he struck out (7 to 4), and Nunez clubbed 23 home runs for AAA Nashville. Both turn 23 within a week of each other right at the beginning of the season, and I'd bet on one of the two turning in a solid season. With Yonder Alonso, Jed Lowrie, and Trevor Plouffe filling out the infield, the bench is also very solid, with the aforementioned Nunez and Olson as well as Adam Rosales, who set a career high with 13 home runs last season, rookie Joey Wendle, and a pair of players looking for bounce-back seasons, Josh Phegley and Mark Canha. Other top prospects in the high minors include Franklin Barreto and Matt Chapman. Lastly, I didn't even realize this until I was writing this preview, but third string catcher Bruce Maxwell was quietly very productive last season. After slashing .321/.393/.539 over 60 games at AAA Nashville, he was called up to the big club and slashed .283/.337/.402 (103 wRC+) over 33 games. Not bad for a guy I've never heard of. In the rotation, Sonny Gray is just two years removed from a huge 2015 (2.73 ERA, 1.08 WHIP), but he struggled mightily last season (5.69 ERA, 1.50 WHIP), and a lat strain has already slowed the start of his season. If there's one reason for optimism, it's that he's just 27 and that 2016 looks much more like the exception, not the rule. Behind him are a pair of young hurlers who stepped up in 2016 in Kendall Graveman and Sean Manaea, and I believe Manaea has the chance to be even better this season. A couple of other arms are less proven in Jharel Cotton, Andrew Triggs, and Daniel Mengden, but I think Cotton in particular could have a breakout year in 2017, as he possesses one of the best changeups I've ever seen. Virginia Tech alum Jesse Hahn also has a good chance to get some starts, especially with Gray injured, but he has to find consistency. He's one of two former Hokies on the team, the other being bench-hopeful Chad Pinder. Four separate relievers have experience closing, including Ryan Madson, Sean Doolittle, John Axford, and newcomer Santiago Casilla, though all four are on the wrong side of 30. The bullpen isn't very deep, but there are plenty of high minors starters, including Daniel Gossett, Frankie Montas, Heath Fillmyer, and Paul Blackburn, who could be converted to relief to help out this season. Fireballing right handed reliever Bobby Wahl, capable of throwing 100 MPH, reached AAA last season. The two most electric arms in the system, belonging to A.J. Puk and Grant Holmes, likely won't be up until 2018. Overall, don't expect the A's to compete, but they are in a better position, as far as the major league team goes, than most rebuilding clubs.
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