With all the moves the Athletics have made, is Rich Harden going to be able to step up and anchor what is left of the staff? Or, is he the next to go?

Where They Are Coming From

The 2007 Oakland Athletics were the worst iteration of the team since 1998, which was the year GM Billy Beane first took the helm. The team was decimated with injuries, as 22 different players missed 1,250 games altogether. They used 54 different players, including 24 pitchers, en route to a record of 76-86 and last place in the AL West. Ironically, Beane targeted the 2007 season as the year in which the team would succeed in the post-season.

Given their horrid performance in '07, it was apparent that the team was in need of a makeover from stem to stern. A number of players on the roster whose injury history made them liabilities, specifically Milton Bradley and Mark Kotsay. They also had several players who were due a major raise in arbitration, making them too costly to fit within Beane's tight budget. Beane has never shrunk from turning the entire team over if needed, using his marketable players to bring back younger, more affordable prospects. This is apparently what Beane had in mind entering the winter, as he has essentially dismantled the 2007 team, retaining only the better young players around which he will now rebuild the A's to try and make them contenders again.

Players Lost

• The Athletics waived right-handed pitcher Colby Lewis, who the Kansas City Royals organization then claimed.


• Other players placed on waivers include outfielders Kevin Thompson and Chris Snelling, and left-handed pitcher Ron Flores.


• The Athletics traded substitute extraordinaire Marco Scutaro to the Toronto Blue Jays for right-handers Kristian Bell and Graham Godfrey, both likely headed to the minors in 2008.


• Right-handed pitchers Dan Haren and Connor Robertson are now with the Arizona Diamondbacks after a trade bringing six prospects in return.


• Outfielder Nick Swisher went to the Chicago White Sox in a trade for three players.


• Outfielder Mark Kotsay went to the Atlanta Braves in a trade for righty pitcher Joey Devine


• DH/C Mike Piazza and outfielder Shannon Stewart filed free agency and will not re-sign with the A's.


• Outfielder Jeff DaVanon filed free agency and he has since signed to a contract by the San Diego Padres.

Players Added

• The Athletics claimed infielder Wes Bankston off waivers from the Kansas City Royals


• Right–handed pitcher Fernando Hernandez was a Rule 5 claim from the Chicago White Sox.


• Free agent OF Emil Brown signed after the Royals non-tendered him.


• Right-handed pitchers Kristian Bell and Graham Godfrey came over from the Toronto Blue Jays in the Scutaro trade.


• Left-handed pitchers Brett Anderson, Dana Eveland, and Greg Smith, first baseman Chris Carter, outfielders Aaron Cunningham and Chris Gonzales were all part of the trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitchers Haren and Robertson.


• Pitching prospects Gio Gonzales, and Fautino De Los Santos, along with outfielder Ryan Sweeney, came over from the White Sox for Swisher.


• Right-handed reliever Joey Devine arrived from the Atlanta Braves in the Kotsay deal.

Moves Still to Come

It is very likely that Beane has not yet finished dealing. Rumors continue to circulate that Rich Harden is on the block, with several teams interested in his services. The A's could start the season with him and look to move him at the trade deadline if they are not in contention. Harden will go whenever Beane feels he can get the most value in return. Another player who could go in a trade is first baseman Dan Johnson. It appears the team is committed to bringing Daric Barton up to the majors and installing him at first. The team expects big things of Barton, and he is an every day type player, not someone they will platoon with Johnson. There has not been much of a market for Johnson's services thus far, but that could change once teams convene for Spring Training.

What to Watch in Spring Training

Even though there is going to be a large influx of new talent on the team, there are surprisingly few battles for position to watch in the spring. The infield appears set with Barton at first, Mark Ellis at second, Bobby Crosby at short, and Eric Chavez returning to third base. Kurt Suzuki and Rob Bowen will be the catching tandem, and Jack Cust returns in the DH role. The closest thing to a position battle will come in the outfield. Emil Brown will try to win a starting job with Travis Buck, Chris Denorfia, Ryan Sweeney, and Chris Gonzales all part of the fray. Denorfia is the favorite to man center field and Buck will likely return to right where he played last season. That leaves at least three players vying for left field and the fourth outfielder’s spot.

Assuming Harden stays for the time being, he will be the Opening Day starter if he is fully healthy. Joe Blanton and Chad Gaudin are the other starters likely to return to the rotation. Justin Duchscherer has been promised a look as a starter, with the other back end starter likely to be Lenny DiNardo. DiNardo and Duchscherer will be challenged by Kirk Saarloos and perhaps some of the other non-roster invitees. However, keep an eye on Gio Gonzales and Fautino De Los Santos, the pitchers acquired in the Swisher deal with Chicago. Both are said to be ready for the majors, with Gonzales slightly ahead of De Los Santos in terms of overall development. If they do not win the job in the spring, they will almost certainly make an impact somewhere along the line this season.

The bullpen was absolutely dreadful last season, as 10 different pitchers blew 24 of 60 save opportunities. Huston Street missed 63 games due to injury, leaving the A's in the unenviable position of having to dig deep into their stockpile of arms to close games. It was Alan Embree who finally stabilized the situation, and he returns to the A's pen this season along with Kiko Calero. The rest of the bullpen will be chosen from among the 15-20 pitchers that are likely to arrive at Spring Training.

The following players have received invites to Spring Training;

• Pitchers: Arnold Leon, Kirk Saarloos, Brooks Conrad, Ryan Wing, Troy Cate, Angel Garcia, Chris Gissell, and Brad Ziegler, Gio Gonzales, Jay Marshall, James Simmons


• Catchers: Justin Knoedler, Jeremy Brown, Anthony Recker


• Infielders: Casey Rogowski, Brooks Conrad, Jeff Baisley


• Outfielders: Todd Linden, Danny Putnam, Aaron Cunningham