Oakland Athletics: 6 Steps To Returning to the Playoffs

Jeremy DornOct 31, 2011

Oh the Oakland Athletics. Every season, they find a new way to psych us up and then tear us down. Hot prospects, a freakish rotation, a solid bullpen, a new big bat: smoke screens for the inevitable—that they just didn't quite have enough money to sign the pieces to compete.

So the big bat ends up being a rental; the prospects are shuffled. And then the bad luck sets in and before we know it, half the pitching staff is on the DL. Honestly, being an A's fan is like being a dog on a treadmill, racing for the treat hanging from the front, constantly just running in place.

Oakland has all the potential in the world to make a run at the World Series; it's just a matter of putting it together in the same season and staying relatively healthy that holds us back. Well, and that damn stadium decision drama. Basically, if the A's get the go-ahead on a new stadium, they will hold off on spending this offseason and focus on rebuilding.

But, if you are a fan like me, you're tired of rebuilding. Tired of the revolving door. So, here are six steps the A's can take to assure their loyal fans get to watch a playoff team in 2012.

1. Re-Sign Josh Willingham

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Josh Willingham is one of the most underrated, unknown stars in baseball today. He held that title on the Marlins, then in D.C. and still in Oakland. He's kind of like a cult classic, where only the diehard fans know his true worth.

After years and years of yearning for a big right-handed bat in the lineup, Billy Beane scored with Willingham. He was the first intimidating addition since Frank Thomas left. He nearly drove in 100 runs on an offensively challenged A's team and mashed a career-high 29 home runs. And you can't put a price tag on the ability to hit in the clutch, which is something Willingham thrives at.

The A's had him in 2011 at a one-year, $6 million clip. Seems like a bargain, but considering that's about 10 percent of the entire organization's payroll, it's more than you'd think. I think it would be well worth offering a two-year $16-17 million contract. I don't think Beane would go for it, but the offense suddenly gets a lot worse if Josh walks.

2. Don't Touch the Rotation

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Losing Brett Anderson to injury is a big blow. But at one point or another, Trevor Cahill, Gio Gonzalez, Brandon McCarthy and even Josh Outman have proven to be untouchable. I think Gio is going to be an absolute star in 2012, and with Dallas Braden returning and the late emergence of Guillermo Moscoso, I think the rotation is deep enough.

They don't need to go out and spend money on a pitcher, because they won't be able to afford anyone that is better than what they have. The pitching staff was third-best in the American League last year with a 3.71 ERA. If guys like Moscoso and Outman get shots at starting regularly, we could be in for an even bigger improvement next season.

This pitching staff shows a ton of promise. If the A's were to go out and take a one-year flier on a cheaper, established starter like Brandon Webb or Chris Young, I'd be all for it as long as it's an incentive-laden contract.

3. Let Coco Walk

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That headline was painful to type. Coco Crisp has been one of the most fun, productive, lovable players the A's have had in recent years. He plays electric defense, swipes bases with the best of them and was a great table-setter for a lineup that desperately needed it.

Unfortunately, he is also expensive and injury-prone. Crisp is going to command a pretty decent contract in the offseason, and as good as he looks in the green and gold, we need to let him go elsewhere. We have a plethora of young talent in the outfield already. And assuming David DeJesus also won't return, you are still looking at three or four potential candidates to fill the last two outfield spots.

I think a platoon in center with a couple of our younger guys would worst-case duplicate, best-case exceed the numbers the A's have gotten out of Crisp in the past. And with Jemile Weeks plugging the leadoff spot, that need on offense is filled at a rookie's salary.

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4. Take a Look at Cheap FA Options

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There are a lot of young guys who have been hot prospects for a while that I want to see get some game action. But part of me feels like that would be sealing a death wish for 2012. So, to offset that, here are a few cheap options the A's could look at bringing in:

1. Jamey Carroll

I know, not the biggest name. But he can play almost every position and basically had a full season for the Dodgers last year in which he hit almost .300. He can be had cheap and would provide a veteran presence in the clubhouse and good relief at every infield position.

2. Casey Kotchman

He looked great in Tampa Bay this past year and had his moments in Anaheim before that. He's got a good glove at first and can hit for a high average and get on base. Sounds like the perfect Moneyball candidate to me. Kotchman shouldn't cost more than a few million per season.

3. Brad Hawpe

For some reason, Hawpe fell out of favor in Colorado before moving on to San Diego. But for a while there at Coors, he was a big-time masher from the left side of the plate. He can play first base, DH or outfield and should be a relatively cheap signing. Hawpe would add another instant home run threat to the thin lineup. One problem: He's recovering from Tommy John surgery and might miss the beginning of the season.

4. Jim Thome/Vladimir Guerrero

Okay, this isn't exactly a cheap option. Both of these guys can probably demand $6-8 million for a one-year contract. That's expensive for two players who are relegated to DH at this point in their careers, and might only be used as a fill-in player or pinch-hitter. The upside, however, could be monumental.

5. Eric Chavez/Miguel Tejada

In my opinion, the left side of the infield is set. At least for now. But how awesome would it be if the A's were looking for one or two backup infielders and snatched up Miggy or Chavy? These guys are still fan favorites in the Bay Area and would ignite the fanbase for the time being.

Both could be had very cheap and aren't at the point in their careers where they should be hanging up the spikes. Tejada can still contribute in the field and has a knack for the clutch hit, and Chavez had a very quietly impressive season in a limited role for the Yankees in 2011.

If nothing else, how about an incentive-heavy, nostalgic $2 million contract for each of those throwback heroes, so the fans have something to look forward to? I promise Beane would get an uptick in merchandise sales if Tejada or Chavez were to return.

5. Let the Young Guns Play

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Catcher is locked down by Kurt Suzuki; his defense alone is worth it. Cliff Pennington is going to play short, and Scott Sizemore (if a free agent isn't brought in) is going to start at third on Opening Day. Jemile Weeks pretty much guaranteed he will be the everyday second baseman. That leaves the DH spot, first base and the outfield to be filled.

It's my hope that the A's will retain Willingham in order to have some kind of power supply in the lineup. And I'm going to assume that they will go after a guy who drives in runs at DH or first base. But where do these prospects with immense talent in Oakland's deep farm system fit in?

You've got names like Brandon Allen, who spent a lot of time at first after being acquired midseason last year. Chris Carter, who got a couple not-so-good stints in the bigs, and Jai Miller, Michael Taylor and Michael Choice all forcing their way into outfield consideration. And I don't even know where Erik Sogard, Grant Green, Adam Rosales and Adrian Cardenas fit into the infield next year.

Chances are, with a 25-man roster on Opening Day, that only a few of those guys will be with the big club. I definitely think Allen, Taylor and Choice need an extended look as soon as possible. If Allen struggles, Carter needs to get a better shot as well.

Of course, it would be blasphemy to have a team full of raw, 23-year-olds. I'm just saying they need to get some time. They are too good to toil in Sacramento for much longer. Who knows, maybe most of them turn out like Bobby Crosby, but if even one or two pulls a Jemile Weeks, the A's are instant contenders and Brad Pitt gets ready to film Moneyball 2.

6. Make a Run at Aramis

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I know this doesn't exactly sound like a typical penny-pinching move from Billy Beane. But, it would enable him to use his magic and get what is sure to be the biggest offseason steal. Ramirez is coming off a bounce-back year in which he recovered from a couple below-average seasons in Chicago. He started to fall out of favor because of injuries and resulting production dips.

But by no means is this former All-Star over the hill. He's still got tons of pop in his bat and can play a mean third base. He's exactly what an offensively starved A's team needs. A star player with big-time power, playing the hot corner for a bargain.

By a bargain of course, I mean a two-year $20 million contract or so. But in today's market, and with the numbers he puts up, that is the best deal we're going to see made this winter. The most bang for the buck. Let's just hope that Beane is the one to make it.

Recap: 25-Man Opening Day Roster Prediction

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Now, the hard part. There are so many question marks on offense for the A's going into 2012. As always, there isn't a lot of money to spend and there is too much minor league talent to ignore. I think with the money they do have (Beane is a few bills richer after Michael Wuertz was let go this week), the A's need to really focus on getting Willingham back for another couple seasons and making a run at another bat that can provide some pop for Bob Melvin's lineup.

I think if the rotation is going to be messed with at all, it's got to be a "Rich Harden in 2011" type situation, where it's really just a shot in the dark at a relatively low cost. Who knows if they will strike gold? Oakland doesn't have the money to chase even B-list free agents right now, and needs to start thinking about building with the core of talent they already have under contract.

The additions to my take on next season's roster would hardly cost anything when all is said and done, and would even enable a little cap room to get a more expensive bat or arm if that became necessary down the road. I think you're looking at around $40 million for the new contracts, coupled with the money you are saving on Crisp, David DeJesus and Hideki Matsui leaving and the difference isn't that staggering.

Without further ado, here is my ideal Opening Day lineup for the 2012 Oakland Athletics:

1. Jemile Weeks, 2B

2. Casey Kotchman, 1B

3. Josh Willingham, LF

4. Brad Hawpe (replaced by Chris Carter until Hawpe is healthy), DH

5. Aramis Ramirez, 3B

6. Kurt Suzuki, C

7. Michael Taylor, RF

8. Jai Miller/Michael Choice, CF

9. Cliff Pennington, SS

Rotation

1. Gio Gonzalez, LHP