2009 outlooks: Oakland Athletics

The A's suffered mightily after the trade deadline last year, when they basically waved the white flag with deals of Rich Harden and Joe Blanton. This winter, it actually added something -- a big something -- in slugger Matt Holliday.

Now, the question is whether their reloaded farm system is used to help the 2009 team directly, or perhaps as bargaining chips ... or might there even be another midseason firesale to look toward 2010 as the year they truly can compete?

The answer lies in the development of elite pitching prospects Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson. If those two come along at the same rate they have the past two seasons, the A's are going to be a real force by the end of the season -- perhaps even Tampa Bay Rays-like.

Yes, Cahill and Anderson can be that good. But, no, they won't be rushed in spring training, most likely waiting for their midseason call-ups.

The A's had great pitching the first half of last season, but little thump in their lineup. Well, they add the thump in Holliday and Giambi, but now there is little in the way of proven starters in that rotation. Justin Duchscherer finally got out of the Pitch-22 (good enough to start, too valuable in relief), but he hasn't yet proven capable of staying healthy for a full season as a starter -- much less an ace. Dana Eveland, Sean Gallagher, Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden have had their moments, too -- both good and bad.

The bullpen isn't certain either, being rebuilt after the trade of Huston Street and the emergence of potential closers Brad Ziegler and Joey Devine. That will be a very interesting position battle this spring. At least that duo figures (hopes?) to have a full-season contender to get them an ample enough of save opportunities.

Sleeper: Eric Chavez, 3B

GM Billy Beane told us he defines a player's prime as 26-31, which is the very reason he gave Chavez the long-term contract during those very same years. It hasn't worked out due to injury (the shoulder most recently), but Chavez is still young enough to resurrect his lost career. He should prove to be a bargain as a last-round pick in mixed leagues and a sleeper in AL-only formats. When he has gotten at-bats throughout his career, he has been a solid run producer -- and that is even when his average dipped to the .240 range. Chavez is going to be one to watch very closely in spring training, especially if you don't anticipate getting an elite option at the third base position. Chavez will be on the board after the top 30 at his position, but if he can just prove healthy enough for 400 at-bats, he could produce like a top 15 option.

Bust: Brad Ziegler, RP

You thought we were going to say Holliday, right? Well, it is becoming so common to list him as a bust post-Coors Field, the consensus might wind up lowering the Holliday expectations and draft position to a reasonable level -- a second-round pick or lower. We list Ziegler as the bust here, because we think his age and journeyman experience makes him the incumbent for the closer's job. He will get drafted as such, but we have little confidence in him finishing the year as a closer. He is the latest example of the Moneyball chapter on the quirky-delivery reliever who gets by on being the unknown. His career started with an amazing scoreless streak before he elevated to the closer's role and wound up looking a little more human by season's end. Perhaps the league just started figuring out his unorthodox delivery. You just might be wasting a pick on him, if you are passing up some relievers in more stable situations.

Breakout: Joey Devine, RP

What Ziegler lacks in knockout stuff, Devine more than makes up for it. Drafted as a college closer in the first round and arriving in the majors just a few months after the draft, Devine finally looked like a closer of the future he was projected to be. He was nearly untouchable in over 45 innings last year, posting a 0.60 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP. Those are absurd numbers. Devine might not enter spring training or the regular season as the closer, but he shouldn't be long from taking over that role full time and running with it. Devine's numbers as a setup man alone might warrant picking him before Ziegler on Draft Day, and that is even if Ziegler is named the closer.

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