Prospects

With the A’s missing the playoffs this year for the fifth-consecutive season, many fans are wondering what to expect from the green-and-gold in the foreseeable future. Is their any hope for better days in Oakland? Well, as noted before on this site, the A’s have a few talented hitters waiting to make an impact on the big-league level. Oakland’s pitching staff over the past few seasons has been a bright spot for an organization that hasn’t had a winning season since 2006, but the team’s offense has been the exact opposite of good. It’s been terrible. General manager Billy Beane, [...]

Drafted as the Oakland Athletics’ first round pick during the 2009 draft, SS Grant Green is seen as a part of Oakland’s future infield. Over the past few seasons, the Athletics have attempted to rebuild the franchise and Billy Beane’s youth movement was on full display during Thursday’s Mark Ellis to Colorado trade. With the Ellis deal, the A’s demonstrated that they’re getting ready for the future. Handing the job to rookie Jemile Weeks is an indication that the A’s know they have pieces down in the minors getting ready to help out the big league team. Weeks provided a [...]

With Jemile Weeks providing a spark on offense for the Athletics, Oakland’s recent youth movement seems to be in high gear. The A’s activated Mark Ellis on Wednesday, but the veteran infielder will likely fill in as back-up infielder, an indication that Oakland sees Weeks as part of their future. So, with Weeks stepping up and hanging tough in the big leagues, many fans are wondering how some of the other prospects in Oakland’s farm-system are faring this season. A Quick Update on… SS Grant Green (Double-A Midland): Green, one of Oakland’s top prospects, is currently in Double-A Midland with [...]

The Oakland Athletics selected Vanderbilt pitcher Sonny Gray with their 1st round pick on Monday during the 2011 First-Year Player Draft. The No.18 overall pick in the draft, Gray, 21, is a talented right-hander from Vanderbilt with a bright future. The A’s opted to go with a pitcher this year, after selecting a hitter with their first-round pick the last three years. The 5-foot-11 righty has the skills necessary to overcome his smaller frame, and the A’s are hoping that Gray’s success on the collegiate level will transfer over to his professional career. Gray recently finished up his Junior year [...]

In a recent post on MLBTradeRumors.com, the Oakland Athletics were a topic of Peter Gammons’ discussion about the increasing value of minor league players. The A’s, who boast one of the deepest rotations in baseball, also have a ton of young talented pitchers on the rise. Guys like Brett Anderson and Gio Gonzalez are considered to have the raw skills necessary to have long lasting careers in the majors, but would Oakland, a team that finished the 2010 season with a major-league best 103 quality starts, ever consider moving one of those young arms in a trade?

Well, it looks like DH Jack Cust didn’t have to wait long to be picked up on a $2.5 million one year contract with the Seattle Mariners, which could increase on plate appearances to over $2.6 million. His .271 average, 13 home runs and 52 RBIs in the 2010 season apparently struck a cord with The Mariners.   Cust could not be more pleased with the deal.  He told the the Seattle Times, “From what it sounds like, I’m going to be in there both way (versus lefties and righties) and that’s the way I like it,” he said. “I’ve always been able [...]

With two spring training games completed, here’s a look back at some of the action that took place on Thursday and Friday: THURSDAY, MARCH 4 (LOSS, 9-3) Trevor Cahill: Put in two-innings of work Thursday against the Cubs. Cahill allowed two runs on three hits, and struck out two. A’s manager, Bob Geren, said that he liked what he saw from Cahill. Justin Souza: Pitched one frame, allowed one hit but also managed to strike out the side in the eighth inning. Michael Taylor: Went 0 for 1 in his first spring training game for the A’s. Chris Carter: The [...]