Oakland Athletics' Big Offseason Questions That Still Need to Be Answered

Though the Oakland Athletics answered their biggest offseason questions—who plays shortstop and which free agents will be re-signed—there are a few that remain unanswered. While some are minor, others are so important they could have major implications on whether the A's repeat as AL West champions.

In 2012, Oakland stole the division from the Texas Rangers in the 162nd game of the season. The Los Angeles Angels weren't far behind.

And while the Rangers haven't done anything to put themselves in place to compete in 2013, the Angels added Josh Hamilton to their already staunch offense which includes Albert Pujols and Mike Trout. The pitching was the weak link last season, but the likelihood of rebound is great. Even the Seattle Mariners have added a few fine pieces.

So what have the A's done?

First they let team leaders Brandon McCarthy, Brandon Inge and Jonny Gomes walk. Oakland also lost Stephen Drew, who signed with the Boston Red Sox. Longtime Athletic Cliff Pennington was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Chris Young. Lastly, they signed Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima.

Five integral parts of 2012's success are gone—two question marks in their place.

The hope is that Nakajima is a short-term answer at shortstop and Young is the consistency in the lineup that was missing last year.

Now that those are answered, these questions are up next.

Questions That Won't Be Answered Until Play Begins and Ends

Before we get into questions that need to be answered in the offseason, let's address the questions that may have come to many minds. These questions—while pressing—cannot be answered until the season commences (and for some questions, finishes).

Surely, these questions came to mind.

Was 2012 for real, or was it a fluke?

The saying goes "it's better to be lucky than good," but if Oakland's 2012 campaign was luck, it never seemed to run out. Likely, it was a combination of luck, underrated talent and overachieving players, sprinkled in with perfect timing and annual contenders underperforming.

That's not to negate what was done though.

But in thinking about it, the question immediately turns to: "Can the A's do it again?" That is a question we won't know until late into the 2013 season.

Can the team hit higher than .238 collectively?

Many who believe the A's to be a fluke quickly point to their team batting average of .238.

Well, they're right in the sense that it is horrendously low for not just a playoff team, but for any Major League Baseball team. Oakland's third-lowest average was 16 ticks lower than the MLB average (.254).

Hence, it's incredible the A's made it into the postseason.

With the additions of Chris Young and Hiroyuki Nakajima, and the return of Scott Sizemore, the expectation is for the A's to hit for average better overall as a team.

Again, we will have to wait and see.

Will the fans return?

The number 20,728 represents the average attendance per home game for the Oakland A's, which ranks the team No. 27.

If you've gone to games personally or even watched on television, you might think this figure is generous. Although, a difference between "attended" and "purchased" should be noted. While 20,000 fans may have purchased tickets, it appeared more like 14,000 attended.

Regardless of how things look over the course of a year, one thing is clear: the A's sold out their playoff games and a few end-of-the-season games.

But was it only because they were winning?

The fans must recognize that if they continue to sell out games, the team has more money to spend on players. More money to spend means a better product, a better team and a higher chance of winning. (Seems obvious, right?)

Ideally, fans will continue to support this team and make that number spike in 2013.

What Does the Opening Day Outfield Look Like?

A's manager Bob Melvin has already stated that he will rotate Josh Reddick, Yoenis Cespedes, Coco Crisp, Seth Smith and Chris Young, giving the five-some nearly equal time.

In theory, the elementary idea of splitting things evenly makes sense.

However, it doesn't make too much sense to replace Reddick with any other positional player in right field when you don't have to. Likewise, taking a healthy Cespedes out of the lineup that often wouldn't be wise.

Not only is the question who gets the least time, it is also, who starts on the bench?

At this point, it's safe to assume all of the incumbents are keeping their spots: Cespedes in left, Crisp in center, Reddick in right and Smith at DH. But if Young comes in and greatly outperforms his competition, it could throw a monkey wrench into the equation.

Should that happen to say, Smith or Crisp, it's imaginable to see either of the two upset.

Prediction: Young beats out Crisp for an outfield spot. Crisp won't be happy, but he'll get a ton of his playing time at DH.

Who Starts the Season at Second Base?

Does Jemile Weeks earn his job back? Does Scott Sizemore switch back from third to second? Does Grant Green steal the spot in spring training? Do Adam Rosales and Eric Sogard have any shot? Or do the A's, unhappy with all of these options, pursue a free agent or trade partner?

Someone has to man second base. No one can be sure who that is at this point.

Casey Pratt of CSNBayArea.com illustrates all of these options in a breakdown of the position. But each man has a problem: Weeks was terrible in 2012; Green hasn't played in the majors, ever; Rosales and Sogard are clear role players; Sizemore spent the entire year on the disabled list, and has already transitioned from second to third base once in his career.

None of these options should have management 100 percent comfortable.

Prediction: Jemile Weeks starts the season at second after hitting comparable to Sizemore. The team stalls on plugging in Green at the beginning of the season, so it's Weeks' job by default. If he falters, it's Sizemore's job only until management believes Green is as ready as he'll ever be.

Is Josh Donaldson a Lock at Third?

If Scott Sizemore is seriously in the running for second base, then yes, Josh Donaldson is a lock for third base. It's somewhat because there's not another option, but that's not to say he hasn't also earned a legitimate shot.

After hitting .153 in the first half—and suffering from a demotion to Triple-A—Donaldson rebounded in a big way by hitting .290.

The hope is that in 2013, Donaldson will continue to thrive.

Prediction: Donaldson and Sizemore hit about the same. Donaldson wins the starting spot because he is now the incumbent. Sizemore is next in line should Donaldson stumble.

Where Are the A's Going to Play After 2013?

The lease the Oakland A's have on O.co Coliseum expires at the end of the 2013 season. Bud Selig has yet to approve a move to San Jose. That leaves the team in limbo.

Because of this state of flux, owner Lew Wolff requested a five-year extension on the lease.

Unfortunately, if the Coliseum's Joint Authority sees this as Wolff simply buying time before an inevitable move to San Jose, they may be tempted to reject a proposed extension.

The A's would have to rapidly look for a new, temporary home.

That is a possibility of three venues in the span of a decade if that should occur (O.co, stopgap home, San Jose location). That certainly won't make fans—or players for that matter—happy.

This is a question in need of an answer yesterday.

Prediction: The lease is signed, and the A's remain in O.co Coliseum for the next five years. Some money is better than no money.

Which Prospects Will Begin the Season in Oakland?

According to MLB.com's Prospect Watch list, OF Michael Choice is the No. 1 prospect in the A's system. His estimated time of arrival is 2013. But that doesn't seem likely given the amount of big-league outfielders the A's have already.

Behind Choice, there are a couple of intriguing players that are ready for Major League Baseball.

Dan Straily saw time at the end of 2012 and did very well. He could certainly return to the minors if he doesn't have a spot on the roster, but his talents are proven.

Grant Green is 25 years old, has played in the minors for four years and has learned a variety of positions from shortstop to third base, outfield to second. The organization has looked for a place for him now for a year or two, and if they can't find one in 2012, it's not likely they ever will.

Brad Peacock is a soon-to-be 25-year-old pitcher with major league experience. He too has been ousted from the 25-man roster based on the lack of a spot to provide (other pitchers are simply better).

One or all of them could definitely see time in 2013.

Prediction: Choice stays in Triple-A all season. Straily starts in the minors, gets a call-up and stays in Oakland for the duration of the season. Green earns the right to be on the 25-man roster, but not as a starter. Peacock bounces back and forth between the majors and minors, filling in for injuries as needed.