Athletics GM: 'We have money to spend' to improve outfield

Notwithstanding its reputation as one of baseball's most cash-strapped clubs, the Oakland Athletics "have money to spend" this winter, according to general manager David Forst, whose top offseason priority is improving the outfield.

After shipping Josh Reddick to Los Angeles in July, and with Danny Valencia now on his way to Seattle, the Athletics have two outfield spots to fill this winter, and Forst suggested his club will be uncharacteristically aggressive in free agency as it looks to replace those guys.

“We need major-league outfielders,” Forst told Joe Stiglich of CSNBayArea.com. “We have to be (open) to any means of acquiring, whether it’s free agents or trades. It’s certainly not our history to be aggressive at the top end of the free-agent market, but we have money to spend and we have some good options."

Though the Athletics spent the last year-plus swapping veterans for young talent, having traded away Reddick, Rich Hill, Chris Coghlan, Ben Zobrist, and Scott Kazmir in the last 15 months, if the club is, indeed, looking to improve its 25-man roster this winter, there are a number of intriguing possibilities in free agency.

A reunion with Yoenis Cespedes, the consensus top player available in free agency, seems unlikely, but the Athletics may be amenable to deal with one or more of Dexter Fowler, Ian Desmond, Jose Bautista, Mark Trumbo, or even Reddick (each of whom, with the exception of Reddick, received qualifying offers and are attached to draft-pick compensation).

As things currently stand, the Athletics are poised to start Brett Eibner and Matt Olson in their outfield along with Khris Davis in 2017, though Mark Canha, who's recovering from hip surgery, "will help fill (that) gap," as well, Forst said.