With the addition of lefty-swinging Yonder Alonso, Canha might see more action in the outfield or share first base.ĭepth chart: Canha, Alonso, Vogt, Billy Butler, Max Muncy, *Matt Olson. The main downside to Canha, at least last season, was an inability to hit lefties, who limited him to a. He also played 61 of his 124 games in the outfield, versatility the matchup-happy A’s appreciate. Canha, 26, finished with 16 homers and 70 RBI, and he improved as the season went on, boosting his OPS from. Where the A’s stand at each position (*prospect):ĭepth chart: Vogt, Phegley, *Carson Blair, Bryan Anderson, *Nottingham.įirst base: Rule 5 draftee Mark Canha not only justified staying with the big club all season, but he also emerged as a legitimate option at first base or left field. “We’re having conversations on just about every part of the roster,” Forst says of the possibility Lawrie might be moved. More changes are sure to follow, with infielder Brett Lawrie now likely trade bait.
Oakland also made two moves to revamp the infield, reacquiring versatile Jed Lowrie and trading for first baseman Yonder Alonso. The in-house candidates include Jesse Hahn, Kendall Graveman, Chris Bassitt and Sean Nolin. They are confident closer Sean Doolittle will return to his previous form after battling shoulder problems but have several holes to fill in the rotation behind Hill and staff ace Sonny Gray. They also got lefty Rich Hill, whom they project as a starter.
#Jacob nottingham batting stance free
The A’s traded for reliever Liam Hendriks and signed free agents Ryan Madson and John Axford to fortify the bullpen. The bullpen is of particular concern after yielding the highest ERA in the AL last season at 4.63. To that end, the first priority is addressing a pitching staff that produced the best ERA in the league for the first four months of 2015, then fell apart as injuries, inexperience and trades of key figures such as Scott Kazmir and Tyler Clippard took their toll. “Our approach will be to make sure we keep that core group of kids together.”īut Forst disputes the notion the A’s have changed their philosophy and are willing to put up with a dry spell, insisting they intend to contend in 2016. “We’re going to hold on to those guys, which creates a gap between now and when they arrive and become productive big-leaguers,” Beane says. They include the likes of shortstop Franklin Barreto, first baseman Matt Olson, catcher Jacob Nottingham, lefty Sean Manaea and third basemen Matt Chapman and Renato Nunez. Beane, who has been promoted to executive vice president of baseball operations, is known for competitiveness and lack of patience, so it was curious to hear him say after the season that the club intended to hang on to its prized collection of prospects at Classes A and AA.
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