The Oakland A’s staggered their way to a disappointing season record of 69-93. It was their second-straight last place finish in the AL West. It quickly became clear that there would be no trip to the postseason. The front office decided to prepare for the future in a lost season. Chris Coghlan, Josh Reddick, Rich Hill, and Marc Rzepczynski were all traded midseason, and Billy Butler was released.
The front office achieved a lot in reshaping the roster midseason, but their work is far from finished. It was reported that Oakland will listen to deals for Sonny Gray, Sean Doolittle, and Stephen Vogt. It is clear the A’s are willing to part with fan favorites if the right rebuilding opportunity comes along.
Oakland A’s 2016 Offseason Needs
Re-Sign Josh Reddick
Outfielder Josh Reddick was involved in a midseason trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Reddick had played his last four-and-a-half seasons in Oakland, and a reunion with the A’s would make a lot of sense. Reddick brings the type of balanced power and on-base approach that Oakland loves. He has a triple-slash line of .257/.321/.440 and an OPS of .761 for his time with the A’s. The .749 OPS that he posted in 2016 would rank fourth on the A’s among players that played more than 70 games.
The A’s need more offense, and Reddick had been a perfect fit while in Oakland. His offense and ability to nab baserunners with a strong arm will come in high demand. Reddick may prove to be too pricey in a weak market, but the A’s should aggressively pursue him.
Get Sonny Gray Healthy
Starter Sonny Gray has been Oakland’s most consistent pitcher since 2014. He remains under control through arbitration until 2020, but his performance this season left a lot to be desired. Gray posted a losing record of 5-11, with an ERA of 5.69. He maintained an ability to strike guys out at a consistent rate, but his overall effectiveness was limited.
The main cause for Gray’s struggles this season were two trips to the disabled list. Gray demonstrated he can still battle and get guys out. However, his body was not at 100 percent for much of the season. Getting Gray’s health back for a full season should result in a much improved ERA.
The A’s will listen to trade offers for Gray, but the front office should hold onto him for the time being. Oakland will be best served by letting Gray regain his health and trade value before deciding to part ways with him. He is a legitimate front-end starter in this league and should demand a price as such.
Designated Hitter
Billy Butler signed with Oakland prior to the 2015 season. Butler was not terrible during his year-and-a-half with the A’s, but he was certainly not the same player from his time with the Royals. Butler had just four home runs and 20 total extra-base hits in 85 games for the A’s this season. He also posted a meager .403 slugging percentage and .733 OPS. Further compounding Butler’s struggles is the fact that he was involved in a fight with teammate Danny Valencia. The A’s eventually cut the struggling and troublesome Butler late in the season, with one year remaining on his contract.
Carlos Beltran, Edwin Encarnacion, and Pedro Alvarez will most likely be too pricey for Oakland to consider. The best DH option available for the A’s is Logan Morrison. Morrison did not have a fantastic year, but he fits a need and should be affordable in this market. Another player they may consider is Ryan Howard. Howard’s days of playing in the field are likely over. He too is coming off a poor year, but Howard will likely try to sign with an American League team for another year or two. Howard will come with lots of questions and concerns, but his affordability may cause Oakland to roll the dice on him.
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