Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics news, rumors and injuriesAthletics | Coco Crisp battling pinkeye Sun, 01 Mar 2015 12:42:53 -0800 Oakland Athletics OF Coco Crisp (eyes) could miss the start of the Cactus League season because of pinkeye, after he was sent home from workouts Saturday, Feb. 28. Crisp previously battled pinkeye in September 2012, missing a total of nine games. Fantasy Tip: Crisp is expected to be available in the middle rounds of mixed league drafts and should be good for approximately 10 homers, 50 RBIs, 20 steals and an average hovering around .260, provided that he stays healthy. Comment () | Share: Athletics | Oakland looking at Dayan Viciedo Fri, 27 Feb 2015 14:43:13 -0800 Free-agent OF Dayan Viciedo (White Sox) is talking to the Oakland Athletics, according to sources. Fantasy Tip: Viciedo could be worth a late-round gamble in deep mixed leagues if he's on a squad when the regular season begins. He was a disappointment for the White Sox in 2014, hitting .231, but he still managed to hit 20-plus home runs in two of the last three seasons. O.co Coliseum in Oakland wouldn't be the most intriguing place for a power threat like him to land, though. Comment () | Share: Athletics | Sean Doolittle talks recovery Thu, 26 Feb 2015 15:46:58 -0800 Oakland Athletics RP Sean Doolittle (shoulder) expects to be a "thorn in the side" of the trainers during his recovery. "I told them, 'Whatever you throw up on that whiteboard, I'm going to crush it today. Then after I'm done, tell me what I have tomorrow.' I kind of like it that way. I keep my blinders on and focus on what I have to do." Fantasy Tip: Doolittle has already been ruled out for opening day, which leaves the closing duties up in the air in Oakland. Tyler Clippard is likely the front-runner, but Ryan Cook also has ninth-inning experience. Doolittle is a worthy stash candidate in the majority of formats, especially if he progresses favorably over the next few weeks. Comment () | Share: Athletics | Rest days will be key for Ben Zobrist Thu, 26 Feb 2015 15:33:37 -0800 Oakland Athletics 2B Ben Zobrist is expected to play primarily at second base this season. Manager Bob Melvin has discussed finding rest days for the versatile defender as the biggest challenge concerning Zobrist, because of the temptation for Melvin to plug Zobrist in at third base or the outfield to allow other starters a day off. Fantasy Tip: Zobrist's fantasy stock receives a slight boost because of his eligibility at multiple positions and ability to stay healthy. He has averaged 562 at-bats over the past six seasons, and he is a reliable cross-category contributor. However, the counting stats are declining, and at 33, Zobrist is no longer worthy of early middle round attention in mixed leagues. Comment () | Share: Athletics | Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir to be eased in Thu, 26 Feb 2015 09:55:25 -0800 Oakland Athletics SPs Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir will be held out of Cactus League games for the first week. Gray made a career-high 33 starts in 2014 and tossed 219 innings, while Kazmir made 32 starts and threw 190 innings, his most since 2007. It'll also allow the A's to get better looks at SPs Jesse Hahn and Kendall Graveman, among others. Fantasy Tip: Gray's jump in innings is definitely a concern, but not enough of one to cloud the fact that he's an up-and-coming ace that could join the elite ranks of starting pitchers in another season. Kazmir was a feel-good story with the A's last year, but his K/9 dipped to 7.8, and you have to wonder how much he has left in the tank on the wrong side of 30. However, he can still be useful in the right matchups in daily games. Comment () | Share: Athletics | Platoon at 1B for A's? Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:09:30 -0800 Oakland Athletics DH Billy Butler will serve as the designated hitter this year against right-handed pitchers, and he'll also play some first base against lefties. 1B Ike Davis will be the primary first baseman against righties, but 1B Mark Canha could also see some time at the position. Fantasy Tip: Butler's move to O.co Coliseum likely won't be good for his power numbers after he clubbed only nine homers last year in KC in 151 games. Butler also saw a career low average of .271. He's not very intriguing for mixed league owners at a position that is ripe with power. Davis' platoon problems likely make him strictly an AL-only commodity. Comment () | Share: Athletics | Marcus Semien could start at SS Tue, 24 Feb 2015 09:34:04 -0800 Oakland Athletics SS Marcus Semien will be receiving "every chance" to be the team's starting shortstop this year, according to manager Bob Melvin. Fantasy Tip: Semien won't be a consideration in standard mixed leagues this year, but he's worth taking a chance on in AL-only universes if he wins the job at the 6 in Oakland. Comment () | Share: Athletics | Stephen Vogt eyeing opening day Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:26:02 -0800 Oakland Athletics C Stephen Vogt (foot) is expected to be ready for opening day without restrictions, according to manager Bob Melvin. However, Melvin noted Vogt is not currently 100% healthy, and the team plans to limit Vogt's activity during camp, including him avoiding playing the field during spring training games. Fantasy Tip: Vogt is a late-round flier in AL-only and two-catcher formats, but he could be overvalued due to his monster first-half surge (.358/.388/.532 slash line with four home runs and 17 RBIs over 109 at-bats) last season. Don't forget about his August slide, though, where he slashed .212/.247/.376. Expect Vogt to settle somewhere in the middle this season. Comment () | Share: Athletics | A.J. Griffin throws session Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:16:12 -0800 Oakland Athletics SP A.J. Griffin (elbow) impressed manager Bob Melvin during his throwing session Friday, Feb. 20. "A.J. was throwing as lively as we've seen in quite some time." Melvin also noted Griffin is eager to return, and they may have to hold him back a little. Fantasy Tip: Griffin and Oakland are eyeballing June for a possible return, which makes him a waiver-wire target and not a late-round flier in drafts. Griffin was solid through the first 47 starts of his career with a 3.83 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP and a 7.7 SO/9 mark. So there is upside for him down the stretch this season, but he is a player to monitor and not roster, at this point. Comment () | Share: Athletics | Jarrod Parker impresses manager Fri, 20 Feb 2015 14:15:22 -0800 Oakland Athletics SP Jarrod Parker (elbow) showed strong command and threw well during his bullpen session Friday, Feb. 20, according to manager Bob Melvin. Melvin noted Parker, "had a real good changeup on top of his fastball and at the end was spinning breaking balls." Fantasy Tip: Parker and Oakland are targeting a return in June, which makes him undraftable in the majority of seasonal leagues. After two Tommy John surgeries, it is difficult to project Parker's fantasy value when he returns, too. He is worth monitoring, though, because over two seasons, he posted a 3.73 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP through 61 starts. Comment () | Share: Athletics | Jesse Chavez continues to impress manager Fri, 20 Feb 2015 12:48:55 -0800 Oakland Athletics SP Jesse Chavez looks in mid-season form after throwing his first bullpen session of spring training Friday, Feb. 20, according to manager Bob Melvin. "He looks in mid-season form every time I ever see him,'' Melvin said, "whether he's throwing bullpen, or in a game early. Impressive. He's a very focused kid who comes here with the mindset he has something to prove. That's always what you like to see.'' Fantasy Tip: Chavez had a respectable 3.44 ERA and 8.5 K/9 through 21 starts for Oakland before he was relegated to the bullpen when the team brought in Jon Lester last season. While there are no guarantees he returns to the starting rotation, his success last season improves the chances, and the Athletics staff has a few injury concerns. At best, Chavez is a late-round flier in mixed leagues, but there is upside, if he lands in the rotation. Comment () | Share: Athletics | Barry Zito financials Tue, 17 Feb 2015 00:29:37 -0800 Oakland Athletics SP Barry Zito will make $1 million in base salary for 2015, and he has the option to make $175,000 in unspecified incentives. Comment () | Share: Athletics | Barry Zito agrees with Oakland Mon, 16 Feb 2015 20:21:46 -0800 Free-agent SP Barry Zito has agreed to a minor-league deal with the Oakland Athletics Monday, Feb. 16. The deal includes an invite to spring training. Comment () | Share: Athletics | Keeping tabs on Hector Olivera Thu, 12 Feb 2015 14:53:02 -0800 Cuban 2B Hector Olivera has a suitor in the Oakland Athletics. The A's, along with several other teams, had a "notable presence" at Olivera's showcase in the Dominican Republic Wednesday, Feb. 11. He went 3-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and a single and made all the plays at third base. Olivera would likely play second base if the A's sign him, which would move 2B Ben Zobrist to the outfield. Comment () | Share: Athletics | Tyler Clippard financials Wed, 11 Feb 2015 15:46:03 -0800 Updating a previous report, Oakland Athletics RP Tyler Clippard avoided arbitration by signing a one-year, $8.3 million deal Wednesday, Feb. 11. Comment () | Share:  |
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