The 2011 Oakland Athletics finished the season 14 games below .500, third place in the American League West Division. The team was also 22 games out of first place and had its fifth consecutive season in which it did not finish over .500. Under General Manager Billy Beane the Athletics has not been afraid to hit the reset button. In the offseason, the organization did just (*). The Athletics are rebuilding and looking to strike a few years down the road. There is no reasonable scenario in which the Athletics are in the hunt for the division crown in 2012.

(*) The payroll will be approximately $15 million less than 2011. The A’s also traded away players that were due pay increases in the near future. The payroll will likely end up the second lowest since the 2004 season at just over $52 million.

(To see an explanation of 2012 MLB team previews and release dates click here)

The Oakland Athletics severely lack impact position players. The starting lineup is not above average anywhere in the field. This may be a reason the organization took a risk and signed outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, a Cuban defector, in the offseason (**). Cespedes is supposed to have power and decent speed; it may take him a season or two to adjust to the Major Leagues but he has upside. Chances are he will get the opportunity to prove himself this season. The starting lineup is not necessarily young. The A’s shouldn’t expect breakouts from many of its position players with the possible exception of second basemen Jemile Weeks who has a decent chance to improve from last season; this will actually be Weeks’ first full season in the Majors. The team was 20th in MLB in runs scored last season, plays in a pitcher’s park, and has an offense that will probably be weaker than in 2011. I expect Oakland to struggle to score runs this season.

(**) Cespedes signed a four-year deal worth $36 million. He is the highest paid player on the Athletics in 2012 at $6.5 million.

Over the offseason the organization dealt two of its three most reliable starting pitchers, Gio Gonzalez and Trevor Cahill, from the 2011 season. The team also traded away Guillermo Moscoso and hasn’t re-signed Rich Harden. Brett Anderson is still recovering from Tommy John surgery from July of last year. What does all this mean? The projected rotation for 2012 only returns 28 starts (17%) from 2011. Brandon McCarthy had 25 of those 28 starts; Dallas Braden had the other three – he may not be ready for Opening Day. This is where the Athletics rebuilding really is felt. McCarthy must step in as the No. 1 starter. He will be followed by offseason sign Bartolo Colon and Braden whenever he is ready. The last two spots in the rotation are truly up for grabs. Brad Peacock, Jarrod Parker, Tom Milone, and Tyson Ross will be competing for spots in the rotation during Spring Training. Peacock (acquired in the Gio Gonzalez trade) and Parker (acquired in the Trevor Cahill trade) were both big prospects with their former clubs. McCarthy seemed to find himself last season and should at least be a stable presence. Colon had a better than expected season with the Yankees and could have another decent season with the move to Oakland. Braden missed almost all of last year with a shoulder injury. At least two of the spots in the rotation will be filled by young/inexperienced players. The Athletics starting rotation is a considerable unknown heading into the season.

The Athletics also lost their closer, Andrew Bailey, during the offseason via trade with the Boston Red Sox. Brian Fuentes, Grant Balfour, and Fautino De Los Santos will compete for the closer job this spring. Fuentes has the most experience in the role. The hard throwing De Los Santos is the dark horse for the job and may even be the best equipped to handled it. The rest of the bullpen is nothing to get excited about.

Oakland will in all likelihood take its lumps in 2012. The organization is planning for the future. The starting lineup is not very talented as a whole and will struggle to score runs. The rotation was the strength of the team last season. This season not much can be counted on. The A’s also lost its best reliever over the offseason. Add it all up and the Athletics will be weaker in essentially ever area this season. A third place finish would be about as good as one could expect.

Offseason Moves:

Additions:

• Yoenis Cespedes (OF) – free agent
• Seth Smith (OF) – trade with Colorado Rockies
• Josh Reddick (OF) – trade with Boston Red Sox
• Bartolo Colon (RHP) – free agent
• Jonny Gomes (OF) – free agent
• Brad Peacock (RHP) – trade with Washington Nationals
• Tom Milone (LHP) – trade with Washington Nationals
• Jarrod Parker (RHP) – trade with Arizona Diamondbacks
• Ryan Cook (RHP) – trade with Arizona Diamondbacks
• Manny Ramirez (OF/DH) – free agent

Subtractions:

• Gio Gonzalez (LHP) – trade with Washington Nationals
• Trevor Cahill (RHP) – trade with Arizona Diamondbacks
• Andrew Bailey (RHP) – trade with Boston Red Sox
• Josh Willingham (OF) – signed with Minnesota Twins
• Ryan Sweeney (OF) – trade with Boston Red Sox
• David DeJesus (OF) – signed with Chicago Cubs
• Guillermo Moscoso (RHP) – trade with Colorado Rockies
• Josh Outman (LHP) – trade with Colorado Rockies
• Craig Breslow (LHP) – trade with Arizona Diamondbacks
• Rich Harden (RHP) – unsigned
• Hideki Matsui (DH) – unsigned

Projected Starting Lineup:

1. Jemile Weeks – 2B

2. Coco Crisp – LF

3. Seth Smith – DH

4. Brandon Allen – 1B

5. Yoenis Cespedes – CF

6. Josh Reddick – RF

7. Kurt Suzuki – C

8. Cliff Pennington – SS

9. Josh Donaldson – 3B

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. Brandon McCarthy – RH

2. Dallas Braden – LH

3. Bartolo Colon – RH

4. Brad Peacock – RH

5. Jarrod Parker – RH

Projected Bullpen:

• Brian Fuentes – LH
• Grant Balfour – RH
• Fautino De Los Santos – RH
• Joey Devine – RH
• Jerry Blevins – LH
• Ryan Cook – RH
• Graham Godfrey – RH

Projected Bench:

• Anthony Recker – C
• Daric Barton – 1B
• Adam Rosales – INF
• Jonny Gomes – OF

Projected Disabled List (Start of the season):

• Brett Anderson – LHP
• Scott Sizemore – 3B

Variables:

• Beyond McCarthy – Outside of Brandon McCarthy (who isn’t necessarily a sure thing) the A’s have question marks in the rotation. Colon is another year older. Braden and Brett Anderson (if he returns from injury) are both coming off significant injuries/time missed. What’s left is inexperienced, untested options.
• Cespedes – He has a lot to adjust to and will likely need time to develop. It is also possible he is a presence in the middle of the lineup.
• Step up? – The A’s really need multiple position players to progress this season.
• Back of the bullpen – Fuentes, Balfour, and De Los Santos should occupy the closer and setup spots but the situation could be unstable.

Fantasy Implications:

• Jemile Weeks is one of the few position players worth consideration in fantasy baseball. In a 12-team league he may be a starting second basemen. Otherwise he is slotted for a bench spot. He will likely be drafted in most leagues.
• Coco Crisp and Yoenis Cespedes will be drafted as fourth outfielders at best. Crisp had a nice 2011 and his speed will always help. Cespedes is an unknown but will be drafted because of the buzz.
• Kurt Suzuki had a poor year in 2011 but if you’re searching for a catcher late in the draft you may want to take a chance on him.
• Oakland doesn’t have a first basemen ranked in the top 40 according to Yahoo! or ESPN. There isn’t a third basemen ranked at all on ESPN (ranked to 75) and the only third basemen ranked in top 80 by Yahoo!, Scott Sizemore, is out for the season. Yikes.
• Brandon McCarthy should help your team but wins and strikeouts will probably be hard to come by. He’s a better real life pitcher than fantasy pitcher.
• Bartolo Colon may be a waiver wire add at some point.
• Whoever gets the closer job will have value. De Los Santos may be the most intriguing because of his skills.