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The last time we saw the A’s, they were walking off the field in Kansas City, vanquished in 12 innings after blowing leads of 2-0, 7-3 and 8-7. That was the wild card game, which Oakland was playing because of a 22-33 record over the final two months of the season that turned what had been a six-game lead in the American League West into a finish 10 games behind the Angels.
Brandon Moss, who hit two homers against the Royals, is gone. So is Jon Lester, who started the wild card game. So are Josh Donaldson, Jonny Gomes, Jed Lowrie, Alberto Callaspo, Geovany Soto, Derek Norris, Nick Punto, Luke Gregerson, and Jason Hammel. Yes, it was a busy offseason for Billy Beane, who shuffled the deck and put together an all-new starting infield for Oakland, along with the additions of new pitchers in both the rotation and the bullpen.
So, what can be expected from the A’s in 2015? Here are five predictions.
1. Magic Beane
The most controversial move that Beane made in the offseason was the trade that sent Donaldson to the Blue Jays for third baseman Brett Lawrie, pitchers Kendall Graveman and Sean Nolin and infield prospect Franklin Barreto. Donaldson is coming off back-to-back stellar seasons, with 8 WAR in 2013 and 7.4 in 2014. The players this century to put together three straight seasons of 7 WAR or better? Mike Trout from 2012-14, Miguel Cabrera from 2011-13, Evan Longoria from 2009-11, Albert Pujols from 2003-10, Chase Utley from 2005-09, Chipper Jones from 2007-09, Alex Rodriguez from 2000-05, Barry Bonds from 2000-04 and Jason Giambi from 2000-02. Donaldson is a heck of a player, but he’s not on that level. Beane sold high on him, bought low on Lawrie and got a couple of pitchers who will help his team this year. The A’s side of the trade will be worth more wins above replacement this year than the Blue Jays’ side.
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2. Chronicles of Reddick
Josh Reddick has hit 24 home runs over the past two seasons after his breakout 32-dinger performance in 2012. Dealing with a strained oblique has curtailed the 28-year-old right fielder’s spring training, but he will get back in the swing of things quickly and have an otherwise healthy season, with big numbers in the middle of the Oakland lineup — a .273/.328/.469 line, all career highs, to go with 28 home runs and his first trip to an All-Star Game.
3. Many happy returns
After undergoing Tommy John surgeries last year, A.J. Griffin and Jarrod Parker will each begin the season continuing to recover, but both will be back eventually, and when they do return, it will be a big boost to an already strong A’s rotation. The domino effect will also strengthen the A’s bullpen, while allowing Beane to trade some extra pitching in July, both to bolster Oakland’s lineup and its farm system. The unfortunate part of the equation is that Barry Zito, after a return to Oakland somewhat reminiscent of Tom Seaver with the 1983 Mets, will wind up designated for assignment. The memory of Zito’s comeback will be him coming out of the bullpen to strike out Prince Fielder on opening day, not his 4.63 ERA when he is let go.
4. Great balls of fire
While attending a concert after the A’s Memorial Day matinee against the Tigers, left-hander Sean Doolittle’s long beard will briefly catch on fire after being ignited by an errant spark from stage pyrotechnics. The fire will be quickly extinguished, and Doolittle himself unharmed, but the beard will be singed. Rather than shave, he will leave the facial follicles as they are, telling an apocryphal tale of his beard getting burned from the sheer heat of his fastball. Doolittle will retire 23 consecutive batters, proving as always that in baseball, you do whatever works for you. He will then dye a stars and stripes pattern into his beard for July 4, but will have gone too far — you can’t try to force things like this, and Doolittle will give up a game-tying double to Robinson Cano.
5. Dealt out
In a reverse of last year, the A’s will have a slow start and big finish, with Griffin and Parker joining Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir and Graveman (who will force his way into the picture) to form a superb rotation in the second half of the season. It won’t be enough, though, as Oakland falls three games short of the wild card.