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A’s: Playing for 2011
By Jerry Feitelberg September 7, 2010 |
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After tonight's game with Seattle, there are just 24 games left on the schedule. The Texas Rangers are 6 and ½ games ahead of the A's. If the A's lose tonight,they will be 7 games behind and it will take a total collapse by the Rangers if the A's are to make the playoffs. The A's are going to make hard decisions at the end of the year. Who will be back? Who will gone. The A's took a 10 million dollar one year contract on Ben Sheets. Sheets had Tommy John surgery and will be out of action for 12 to 18 months. It is highly unlikely that Sheets will return. The A's have a 3 ,million dollar buyout on Eric Chavez's contract. Chavez has played in just 154 games the last 4 season and has been disabled by bulging discs in his neck. That would free up another 12 million dollars. Will Jack Cust be back? Cust is making 2.3 million dollars this year but was designated for assignment at the end of spring training and has not been very productive this year as the designated hitter. The A's would then have 24 million dollars available to get some hitters during the winter. They would not have to trade any of their good pitchers. In addition, they could exercise their options on second baseman Mark Ellis and Coco Crisp. The A's have to evaluate players such as Daric Barton,Rajai,Davis, Kevin Kouzmanoff. Will there be a place for Adam Rosales,Jeremy Hermida. Will they keep them or will the be sent to other teams.. Is there a place for Ryan Sweeney. Sweeney hits for average but does not have a lot of power. The A's need power hitters at the corner positions and DH. The A's are set at catcher with Kurt Suzuki but Suzuki tailed off the second half of the season. Suzuki is signed for 4 more years. It should be an interesting off season for the A's and Billy Beane as they deal with these problems. |
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