Oakland Athletics: 6 Current Players Who Won't Be on the A's Come Summer

The Oakland Athletics are in a phase that organizations are generally reluctant to enter—rebuilding mode.  With it comes almost a certainty for failure.

At first glance the team's decision making seems irrational.  Players are acquired and lost for a reason that most fans can't see.  A player's skills during this time may not be as important as his age or tradability.  

What the fans cannot see are the two moves ahead that only their club's general manager knows.  In this case, that man is Billy Beane.  No stranger to this process, he has made no secrets about his intention for the next few seasons.

Over the course of the 2012 season, there will be casualties to Oakland's roster—some minor, others may be surprising.  By summer though, A's fans will know, without question, what direction the club is heading in.

Here are six players currently on the 25-man roster who won't be around by the dog days of summer. 

Collin Cowgill

Unfortunately for Cowgill, Manny Ramirez will be back with the club before June, and the A's also have the right-handed-hitting Jonny Gomes coming off their bench.  Other than that, Cowgill has nothing to worry about when it comes to maintaining a roster spot.

It also doesn't bode well for Cowgill that his best attributes, his arm and defense, won't really play a factor in the A's decision of whether or not to keep him.  Having a very good defensive outfield, it's unlikely that they would need a defensive replacement at any point during the course of a game.  When Ramirez comes back, look for Cowgill to be sent down to Sacramento.

Kila Ka'aihue

A relative no-namer, Ka'aihue was only able to make the club due to a lack of any consistent option at first base.  His .242 average this spring certainly didn't impress anyone, and the only reason why he is on the club is probably so Chris Carter can see at-bats in Sacramento, as opposed to sitting on the bench in Oakland.

Once the first base job sorts itself out, whether that be Daric Barton or Brandon Allen emerging as the starter, look for Ka'aihue to be designated for assignment.

Anthony Recker

Another relative no-namer, Recker thus far has been a career minor leaguer.  So at some point during the season, expect Josh Donaldson to once again be used in his natural position of catcher.

The A's clearly value Donaldson's ability at the plate, hence why they essentially gave him every opportunity to be the starting third baseman after Scott Sizemore went down.  Unfortunately for both Donaldson and Recker, Donaldson's glove wasn't as reliable as the A's hoped, while his bat didn't quite live up to expectations either.

Eric Sogard really emerged this spring at third, and with each roster spot valuable, expect the A's to part ways with Recker and instead keep the more versatile Donaldson. 

Tom Milone

Milone came over in the Gio Gonzalez trade this offseason.  He's being given a spot in the rotation essentially by default, as several candidates like Brad Peacock and Jarrod Parker played their way out off the roster.

Milone this spring wasn't overly impressive, but it was just good enough to convince the A's that of the young candidates previously mentioned, he was the most major-league ready.  He was also the only candidate who was left-handed.  That won't be the case however, when Brett Anderson and Dallas Braden return from injuries.

Expect Milone to stick around when Braden returns, but to leave when Anderson makes his way back.

Graham Godfrey

Godfrey is in the same position as Milone.  It's likely that his prior major-league experience from last year played a factor in the A's decision to keep Godfrey in the rotation to begin the year.

During his time in Oakland last season, Godfrey was serviceable.  This spring he was far from it however, possessing an ERA of 7.11.  If nothing else, Godfrey probably buys the A's a few starts until Parker or Peacock sort themselves out in Sacramento.  It's also possible that the A's go as long as they can using only a four-man rotation, while utilizing Godfrey out of a long-relief role or a spot start if they needed.

Even though he's currently in Oakland, don't expect Godfrey to see much action.  He's merely a stop gap until another player is ready to return.

Grant Balfour

One position Billy Beane has always deemed replaceable is the closer role.  It's why he traded Andrew Bailey this offseason, and Billy Koch and Huston Street in years past.  With it highly unlikely that the A's compete this season, look for Beane to trade any player with value come the trade deadline.

The A's also have several candidates to replace Balfour on the roster if he were to be traded.  Being a steady and proven veteran, Balfour would definitely garner interest on the trade market assuming he pitches like he has in years past.  His name was floated around during last year's deadline, and now being a closer his value should be rise, bringing back a little more in return for the A's.