2017 Oakland Athletics Top 10 Prospects Insider

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Talent Infusion: Draft Report Card

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SEASON IN A SENTENCE: With ace Sonny Gray enduring a lost season and the roster enduring an Oakland-record 27 disabled-list stints, the Athletics traded off most of the remaining members of its 2012-14 playoff run and finished in last place in the American League West.

HIGH POINT: Acquired in Febuary for prospects Bubba Derby and Jacob Nottingham, outfielder Khris Davis became the first A’s hitter to reach 40 home runs in a season since Jason Giambi in 2000. He had five multi-homer games, including three on May 17 in an 8-5 win against the Rangers.

LOW POINT: Oakland showed it wasn’t ready for prime time in a six-game road trip in early May to Baltimore and Boston. In the last four games of the 1-5 trip, Oakland gave up 51 runs, including Gray blowing a 4-1 lead and giving up five doubles among his eight hits and seven runs in 3.2 innings. Another low point was the late-August pre-game fight between veterans Danny Valencia and Billy Butler that resulted in Butler having a concussion; he was released less than a month later.

NOTABLE ROOKIES: The A’s relied on veterans early before giving rookies more playing time in the second half. Ryon Healy made the Futures Game in the first half, then hit a 480-foot homer while batting .305/.337/.524 with 13 bombs as the primary third baseman in the second half. Lefty Sean Manaea wound up second on the team in starts and innings pitched after making his debut in late April. Righty Daniel Mengden (2-9, 6.50) had less success in his rookie season.

KEY TRANSACTIONS: The A’s got a strong return for their late-July trade with the Dodgers, sending outfielder Josh Reddick and lefty Rich Hill to L.A. for righthanders Jharel Cotton, Frankie Montas and 2014 first-round pick Grant Holmes. Cotton and Montas should be part of next season’s staff. The A’s also traded Coco Crisp and lefty Marc Rzepczynski in late August, getting prospects back in lefty Colt Hynes and second baseman Max Schrock.

DOWN ON THE FARM: A’s domestic affiliates posted a .488 winning percentage, with Double-A Midland winning the Texas League title with an intriguing playoff roster that included prospects such as Schrock, third baseman Yairo Munoz and 2015 first-rounder Richie Martin at shortstop. Third baseman Matt Chapman, a 2014 first-rounder who spent most of the year at Midland, finished third in the minors with 36 home runs.

OPENING DAY PAYROLL: $86,806,234 (24th)

BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average Franklin Barreto
Best Power Hitter Matt Chapman
Best Strike-Zone Discipline Matt Olson
Fastest Baserunner Jeremiah McCray
Best Athlete Lazaro Armenteros
Best Fastball Frankie Montas
Best Curveball Grant Holmes
Best Slider Frankie Montas
Best Changeup Jharel Cotton
Best Control Daniel Gossett
Best Defensive Catcher Sean Murphy
Best Defensive Infielder Matt Chapman
Best Infield Arm Matt Chapman
Best Defensive Outfielder Skye Bolt
Best Outfield Arm Skye Bolt
PROJECTED 2020 LINEUP
Catcher Bruce Maxwell
First Base Ryon Healy
Second Base Marcus Semien
Third Base Matt Chapman
Shortstop Richie Martin
Left Field Khris Davis
Center Field Franklin Barreto
Right Field Matt Olson
Designated Hitter Renato Nunez
No. 1 Starter Sonny Gray
No. 2 Starter Sean Manaea
No. 3 Starter A.J. Puk
No. 4 Starter Grant Holmes
No. 5 Starter Jharel Cotton
Closer Frankie Montas
TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE
Year Player, Pos. 2016 Org
2007 Travis Buck, of Did not play
2008 Daric Barton, 1b Mexican League
2009 Brett Anderson, lhp Dodgers
2010 Chris Carter, 1b/of Brewers
2011 Grant Green, ss Giants
2012 Jarrod Parker, rhp Athletics
2013 Addison Russell, ss Cubs
2014 Addison Russell, ss Cubs
2015 Daniel Robertson, ss Rays
2016 Franklin Barreto, ss Athletics
TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE
Year Player, Pos. 2016 Org
2007 James Simmons, rhp Atlantic League
2008 Jemile Weeks, 2b Padres
2009 Grant Green, ss Giants
2010 Michael Choice, of Indians
2011 Sonny Gray, rhp Athletics
2012 Addison Russell, ss Cubs
2013 Billy McKinney, of Yankees
2014 Matt Chapman, 3b Athletics
2015 Richie Martin, ss Athletics
2016 A.J. Puk,lhp Athletics
LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY
Michael Ynoa, 2008 $4,250,000
A.J. Puk, 2016 $4,069,200
Mark Mulder, 1998 $3,200,000
Grant Green, 2009 $2,750,000
Addison Russell, 2012 $2,625,000

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