Mo. 27 Brewers | No. 25 Rockies | Nos. 30-21
No. 26: Oakland Athletics
Last Season: 68-94
Projected record: 76-86 (fifth in AL West)
BBTN video preview: AL West | Betting guide
When your general manager trades away the eventual American League MVP one season, and then trades away one of the centerpieces of that Josh Donaldson deal a year later for two lower-level prospects, you can get a little depressed about your team's direction. That's fair. What keeps the Athletics out of the very bottom of the basement -- despite their lean payroll, fluid roster and iffy farm system -- is that Billy Beane has found his way out of this sort of predicament before. And quickly.
One area the A's have struggled in is the draft. In the seven drafts from 2008-2014, they've only picked only three players that who project to have career WARs of over 10. One of those is Sonny Gray, who already has a career WAR of 10.4, but will he last the season in Oakland or end up on the trading block in July? -- ESPN.com (graphic from Dan Szymborski)
Marcus Semien figured out defense and offense at separate times last year, so now he just has to do both at the same time. Danny Valencia figured out righties and Billy Burns showed upside. Newcomer Khris Davis has real power and hasn't played a full season yet. The bench is deep. If that odds-and-ends staff can surprise behind ace Sonny Gray, there's enough here to squint at and see a wild-card team. And wild-card teams can win it all.
The A's haven't developed a homegrown position player in years, and none of their pitchers were ever considered top prospects. Maybe someone from their current crop is ready to play in the bigs. Maybe. Roster depth and platoons can only take you so far if no one emerges as a star. Other than Gray, only three A's players are projected to be average. Where's the middle of the lineup?
No. 25 Rockies | No. 27 Brewers | Nos. 30-21
