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Oakland Athletics: Potential Free Agent Targets this Offseason

By Dan Fappiano

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Aug 19, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics third baseman Danny Valencia (26) and left fielder Mark Canha (20) high five team mates after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-2 at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

As the 2015 season comes to a close one team we won’t see in October is the Oakland Athletics. After a complete tear down of the 2014 club which involved trades of players such as Josh Donaldson, Jeff Samardzija, and Yoenis Cespedes; the team hasn’t been able to succeed.

So if a fan can’t enjoy the present, the best they can do is speculate about the future.

Athletics’ fans are going to hope general manager Billy Beane makes a big splash in free agency to bring a new spark to the ball club. With the team in need at almost every position, 2015-16 free agency can actually make or break the future of the A’s.

Looking ahead to the 2016 season, it seems as if only four or five players are guaranteed anything. Josh Reddick, Stephen Vogt, Billy Burns, and Sonny Gray are the nucleus of the A’s in the present and going forward. Many could argue that Sean Doolittle could be added to that group, but due to injuries and the fact that the team could find an internal/external closer he is not yet there — although he will be a big bullpen piece in 2016.

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Oakland Athletics protect three players from Rule 5 draft
Oakland Athletics protect three players from Rule 5 draft /

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    • Beyond those four players though, the team could look to add from outside the organization. Oakland has recently been in the playoffs and while they underperformed in 2015, they aren’t neccesarily a “bad” team. Oakland also isn’t a bad market in terms of television time and revenue. Beane should be able to bring in a very capable free agents to rebuild the organization.

    Looking at players the team should sign, one must look at where the team failed to produce in 2015.

    Through August 31st, the team has only 101 home runs. The lack of pop is evident and the team must add some much needed power hitters to the middle of their lineup. The team’s bullpen ERA was a lackluster 4.56 — 27th in the MLB —  so that needs improvement as well. Their starting pitching stats are buoyed by the play of Sonny Gray and former pitcher Scott Kazmir, so they can look to add a piece. And on defense, the team has committed 104 errors, worst in the MLB, so shoring up the defense is key.

    If Beane targets these players come free agency, they can help bring the A’s back to their former glory.

    Next: Alexei Ramirez

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