Tough Roster Decisions Await the Oakland Athletics

Rich Harden pitched for the Class-A Stockton Ports tonight in a rehab start. His line was six innings pitched, three hits, 0 ER, 0 BB, nine Ks, and three hit batsmen. (Why walk them when you can hit them, huh?)

Harden isn't the only Oakland Athletics players currently rehabbing. So is outfielder Travis Buck. This brings me to question: What two players do the A's remove from their 25-man roster when Harden and Buck return to the team?

My guess on this situation is as follows:

With Travis Buck's return, the A's will have six outfielders in Emil Brown, Ryan Sweeney, Chris Denorfia, Jack Cust, and Rajai Davis. Of these outfielders, the odd-man out is either going to be Denorfia or Davis. (Though if it were up to me, I'd still drop Cust...he is just too streaky and not a good or speedy fielder anyway)

So if it is between Denorfia and Davis getting moved from the 25-man roster like I speculate, my pick would be for Denorfia to be the odd-man out. Davis and Sweeney can platoon the same way that Denorfia and Sweeney were platooning. Davis has the edge speed-wise and can create excitement when on base. He is an above average fielder who reads the ball well off the bat. 

Brown stays because he is a RBI machine right now, Sweeney because he is a left-handed bat, and Cust because Billy Beane has a crush on him.

The return of Rich Harden is an even tougher decision. The rotation has been so strong, who do you move out. If they decided to drop Greg Smith just because he was the replacement, then that is a mistake. Greg Smith has been remarkable in Harden's void and deserves to stay.

Obviously, Joe Blanton is staying in the rotation...unless he gets traded soon.

Dana Eveland and Justin Duchsherer have both looked good in their starts, too.

Might Chad Gaudin go back to the bullpen when Harden comes back? Will the A's try a six-man rotation? Dallas Braden will most likely be sent back to Triple-A Sacramento when Harden comes off the DL. Gaudin can be the long reliever out of the bullpen and a spot-starter. (Like for when Harden gets injured again perhaps?)

Keith Foulke is also in the equation, as he is another A's pitcher nearing a return from the disabled list. Andrew Brown or Joey Devine will most likely lose their spot when Foulke comes back. Again, if it was up to me, Andrew Brown would be the one to clear way to make room for Foulke.

Ya know, making decisions would be a lot easier if players could just stay healthy! But alas, this is baseball.