Team Fantasy Preview - Oakland Athletics
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Throughout the preseason, we will be previewing all 30 teams and what their rosters bring to the fantasy baseball table. This edition covers the Oakland Athletics.
Projected Lineup
| ORDER | POSITION | NAME | BATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | CF | Rajai Davis | R |
| 2. | C | Stephen Vogt | L |
| 3. | DH | Ryon Healy | R |
| 4. | LF | Khris Davis | R |
| 5. | RF | Matt Joyce | L |
| 6. | SS | Marcus Semien | R |
| 7. | 3B | Trevor Plouffe | R |
| 8. | 1B | Yonder Alonso | L |
| 9. | 2B | Jed Lowrie | S |
| BENCH | 1B/OF | Mark Canha | R |
| BENCH | OF | Jake Smolinski | R |
Projected Rotation
| ORDER | NAME | THROWS |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sonny Gray | R |
| 2. | Sean Manaea | L |
| 3. | Kendall Graveman | R |
| 4. | Andrew Triggs | R |
| 5. | Jharel Cotton | R |
Bullpen Hierarchy
| ROLE | NAME | THROWS |
|---|---|---|
| Closer | Ryan Madson | R |
| Set-Up | Sean Doolittle | L |
| RP | Santiago Casilla | R |
Top Prospect to Watch in 2017
Cotton made five starts with the A's last season but will still be considered a rookie heading into 2017 because he pitched less than 50 innings. In those five starts, the 25-year-old posted a 2.15 ERA and a 23:4 K/BB ratio. His K/BB ratio was excellent throughout his time in the minors. He has an excellent change up and is a safe bet to make the rotation out of spring training.
Who Will Drive You Crazy?
Davis was a bit of a one-trick pony last year. All he did was hit home runs. He did hit 42 of them and drove in 102 runs because of it. I don't expect this type of production in 2017. With a reputation as a free-swinger with power, he will be pitched much more cautiously this season and he has no protection in Oakland's bottom-feeding lineup.
The One to Own
I'm not exactly coveting anyone from Oakland's lineup, but one player with a high floor is Davis. The last four seasons he has received plenty of plate appearances, but never more than 500. He is projected to play CF everyday and bat leadoff for Oakland. He had an AL-leading 43 steals this past year and should get more with an expanded role.
Top Sleeper
Healy, 25, hit .305 with 13 homers, 20 doubles and 37 RBIs in just 283 plate appearances last season. He's the one player in Oakland's lineup with big time upside. He can still be had in the later rounds, therefore mitigating any risk coming with drafting him.
(Photos courtesy Action Images)