Oakland Athletics: 3 Offseason Moves They Should Make

Second Move: Designated Hitter

Oct 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez (41) celebrates after scoring against the Baltimore Orioles during game three of the 2014 ALDS baseball playoff game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Having declined re-signing Dunn, the A’s need to seek out a power hitter to act as a DH in their lineup. Luckily for them, there are two prime options in free agency that the A’s could go after in Nelson Cruz and Victor Martinez.

There are also two other options that may not be as powerful in terms of hitting but could efficiently get the job done in Delmon Young and Billy Butler.

Lastly, there is Kendrys Morales who is probably the most unlikely option but would fill the DH role.

Martinez is the best option in terms of hitting, but he may come with a bit of a price tag the A’s may not be able to afford him. Martinez, in 2014, batted .335, hit 32 home runs with 103 RBI’s, drew 70 walks, and had a .409 on base percentage. In Martinez’s career, he has had a batting average over .300 in eight seasons of his 11-year career in the majors. This past season marks his fifth straight season with a batting average over .300.

Oct 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) in game two of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

The next best option is the Baltimore Orioles slugger, Cruz, who batted .271, hit 40 home runs with 108 RBI’s, and had an on base percentage of .333. Cruz is more affordable than Martinez and can pack the same amount of power that Martinez brings to the plate. When Cruz was with the Texas Rangers, he averaged .268 with 157 home runs and 489 RBI’s in his eight-year career with Texas.

Not only are Martinez and Cruz good at producing home runs and offense, they also have postseason experience. Together, they have played in 17 postseason series with Cruz having played in two World Series and Martinez in three American League Championship series.

If A’s can’t get either Martinez or Cruz, there are still two good options in Young of the Orioles and Butler of the Kansas City Royals.

Young, this year for the Orioles, averaged .302 but only hit seven home runs with 30 RBI’s. This type of player could be good for the A’s, because they have home run producers in Josh Donaldson and Brandon Moss but could use an extra player that can get on base consistently to help produce runs and generate an offensive flow.

Oct 3, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles pinch hitter Delmon Young (27) hits a three RBI double against the Detroit Tigers during the eighth inning of game two of the 2014 ALDS playoff baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Then there is Butler who hit .271 with nine home runs and 66 RBI’s this year for the Royals in the regular season and hit .262 in postseason. Butler, like Young, does not always launch the long ball but can hit effectively and get on base consistently.

The final option for DH the A’s could go after is Morales of the Seattle Mariners who struggled to get hot with the bat averaging just .218 with eight home runs and 42 RBI’s. Although Morales has a career .271 batting average and 110 home runs, he is an unlikely option given his recent struggles.

This move is probably the most important move the A’s can make in terms of finding a replacement bat for Cespedes, given that all five options have shown over the course of their careers that they can be the power bat in their team’s lineup.