Mitchell tore up Midland and Sacramento in 2011 by posting an extremely impressive .332/.430/.530 line in 635 plate appearances.  He seemed to be well on his way to forcing himself onto the Athletics 25 man roster.  Unfortunately the 2012 season didn’t quite go as planned for Mitchell.  Perhaps the highlight of his year was being asked to appear at the FanFest event in January.  In 474 plate appearances for the Rivercats Mitchell posted a rather pedestrian .252/.345/.386 line.  He missed time due to a back injury as well that derailed his season.

June 15, 2012; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Miami Marlins relief pitcher Sandy Rosario (53) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Miami Marlins 11-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

Today a minor move was made that could possibly have a big impact on Mitchell’s future with the organization.  The A’s acquired a 27 year old pitcher named Sandy Rosario from the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named or cash, and as a result Mitchell was designated for assignment to make room on the Athletics 40 man roster.  Mitchell will be put through waivers, and seems like he would be an appealing piece to add for outfield depth, or perhaps a chance for some serious playing time on a rebuilding team.  Mitchell’s 2012 was not indicative of the talent he possesses, and he should be able to contribute at some level in the Major Leagues.

Rosario has pitched just 7.2 innings in the Majors with the Marlins over 3 separate seasons and quite frankly got hammered.  His 15.26 ERA proves that point.  Maybe though his struggles were just a symptom of pitching for a team owned by the trustworthy Jeffrey Loria.  As for the A’s, I would look at Rosario in the same light as someone like Jesse Chavez.  If he’s in the game (or even on the roster for that matter) you better hope the game is very well decided or there is literally no one left in the bullpen.  He did post a very good 1.04 ERA in Triple A New Orleans last year over 26 innings pitched, so perhaps an adjustment here or there could help translate some of that success in the minors to the show.

February 25, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher Kurt Suzuki (8) catches in a bullpen session during spring training at Papago Park Baseball Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

The A’s will have a crowded outfield this year and that means the team will have no shortage of competition this spring. Bob Melvin and Billy Beane will have plenty of options this year to look at after Josh Willingham and David DeJesus left this winter for greener pasture. Among those vying for a spot in Oakland’s cramped outfield is former fifth-round draft pick Jermaine Mitchell.

Mitchell, who was taken in 2006 by the Athletics, is hoping to find a spot in Oakland’s outfield this season. Despite the team’s many outfielder, Mitchell does have an outside shot at making his presence felt this spring. He enjoyed plenty of success last year in the minors, posting an incredible .355/.453/.589 slash line with 10 HR and 50 RBIs in Double-A and then posting a .302/.401/.453 slash line in Triple-A Sacramento. Overall, Mitchell muscled his way to a .332/.430/.530 clip with 15 HR and 78 RBIs last year in the minors.

At 27, though, his time as a “prospect” may be coming to a close. He has the skills, as illustrated by his .530 slugging percentage, to make an impact, but the A’s are figured to plenty of candidates vying for playing time in the outfield this year. Mitchell, who is also recovering from knee surgery, will have to prove himself to the organization that he belongs in the major leagues.

Still, with last year’s .234 ISO in Double-A, what’s left to prove?

The A’s know what kind of talent Mitchell can potentially bring to the table. The power-starved A’s are obviously drawn to Mitchell’s power, so despite the arrival of Yoenis Cespedes, Seth Smith, and Josh Reddick this winter, don’t count out Mitchell this year. His injury may have an effect on his progress this spring, but it is expected that at some point, the A’s will give some playing time to the former fifth-rounder.

Jane Lee of MLB.com suggests that the A’s will likely give Mitchell a shot at playing time in the majors at some point this year. The A’s have plenty of players to audition, but one player they’re likely interested in watching this spring is named Jermaine Mitchell. Some cast doubt about Mitchell’s abilities due to his age, but as we all saw last year with Mitchell’s stellar season, his age isn’t a cause for concern.

In six minor league seasons, Mitchell has compiled a .286/.386/.429 batting clip with 49 HR and 287 RBIs. Last year was Mitchell’s breakout season in the minors. He’ll aim to have himself a breakout spring…

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Cuckoo For Coco: The A's have reportedly signed Coco Crisp to a two-year deal worth $14 million (Photo Credit: AP)

According to recent report on the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s are going to retain their outfielder Coco Crisp for two more seasons with a two-year deal worth $14 million. The deal, while not official, includes an option for 2014 worth $7.5 million with a $1 million buyout.

That’s a lot of money for the penny-pinching A’s, especially given their current goal of going younger and cheaper in 2012. This Crisp signing definitely goes against everything we’ve read in Moneyball.

Crisp returns as Oakland’s starting center-fielder, most likely, and it only cost the A’s a guaranteed $14 million. Oh, and if the A’s do end up trading Crisp at this year’s trade deadline like many believe could happen given the team’s lack of big-league talent, it’ll end up costing them financially.

According to Susan Slusser of the SF Chronicle, the A’s must pay Crisp an additional $250,000 if they decide to trade him. Given the team’s less than stellar expectations heading into this season, I wouldn’t be surprised if the team decides to flip Crisp at the deadline for a few prospects. (more…)