By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024
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Billy Beane is a master tactician when it comes to freeing up some cash in order to acquire more players.
Oakland ended last year with a payroll of about $70 MIL. So far this offseason, the A’s GM has picked up several relief pitchers and also signed Scott Kazmir to a 2 YR deal worth $22 MIL.
The team also said goodbye to Bartolo Colon,(who signed with the Mets for a 2 YRs/$20 MIL deal).
Beane has held a fantastic track record of assessing talent, so don’t be surprised if the stocky 40 year old breaks down in the Mets uniform – and not under the A’s watch.
The club also extended Coco Crisp for the 2015 and 2016 seasons yesterday. That deal is also worth 2 YRs/$22/75 MIL.
The majority of the club is now signed through this year and next.
Only 4 players are Unrestricted Free Agents after this year. RP Jim Johnson and Luke Gregerson will be on the open market in 2015, but there roles can be dutifully filled be members on the current squad.
Alberto Callaspo and Jed Lowrie will also be free and clear to sign anywhere else past this campaign.
The club has Hiroyuki Nakijima toiling in the Minors right now, and will pay him $3.125 MIL to do so. Look for them not to pick up his 2015 Club Option for 2015.
The 2014 campaign could be the teams best chance to compete with the current roster. 14 players are eligible for Arbitration in 2015, and the club simply can’t afford to retain everyone.
Look for the management to trade a couple of guys for potentially more team controllable players that are infielders.
The biggest skill that Beane continues to do is draft pitchers well, while also pulling off great trades to stockpile even more arms.
Other than Kazmir, no Staring Pitcher is even making more than an entry level contract in 2014. This gives the GM flexibility to spend money on position players.
Another under the radar move this winter, was signing Eric O’Flaherty. The veteran LHP underwent Tommy John Surgery, and likely will pitch in only half the season, but he is being paid for the 2015 year.
By then, either Sean Dolittle or Ryan Cook may possibly take over as Closer, so he will be a great setup man.
The A’s will teeter between the $70 – $80 MIL mark. Lets hope their attendance at o.co Coliseum continues to rise, and that this franchise may eventually see light in a new baseball stadium.
Yoenis Cespedes is also a Free Agent in the 2016 season, so Beane may have to trade him in the next 2 years – if they can’t come to terms on an extension.
A lot of the big Cuban re-signing may depend on whether they can put the shovel in the ground for a new ballpark.
It would be a shame if Cespedes moved onto another club, but this is the same fate as players like: Miguel Tejada, Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon, Eric Chavez, Tim Hudson, Barry Zito, Mark Mulder have done in previous years.
If I were an A’s fan, I would have the ultimate faith in Beane to keep “baseball rounding”. He is the king of acquiring assets without sacrificing much in return.
It is the team’s depth from such moves – that enables Beane to trade for other pieces needed along the wa
Team Payroll 2014 – 2018.
| Player | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 |
| Yoenis Cespedes | 10,500,000 | 10,500,000 | UFA | - | - |
| Jim Johnson | 10,000,000 | UFA | - | - | - |
| Scott Kazmir | 9,000,000 | 13,000,000 | UFA | - | - |
| Coco Crisp | 7,500,000 | 11,000,000 | 11,000,000 | 13,000,000 | UFA |
| Jed Lowrie | 5,250,000 | UFA | - | - | - |
| Luke Gregerson | 5,065,000 | UFA | - | - | - |
| Alberto Callaspo | 4,875,000 | UFA | - | - | - |
| Brandon Moss | 4,100,000 | ARB | ARB | - | - |
| Hiroyuki Nakajima | 3,125,000 | 5,500,000 | UFA | - | - |
| Nick Punto | 2,750,000 | 2,750,000 | UFA | - | - |
| John Jaso | 2,300,000 | ARB | - | - | - |
| Brett Anderson | 2,000,000 | - | - | - | - |
| Eric O”Flaherty | 1,500,000 | 5,500,000 | UFA | - | - |
| Chris Young | 1,500,000 | - | - | - | - |
| Daric Barton | 1,250,000 | ARB | - | - | - |
| Craig Gentry | 1,145,000 | ARB | ARB | - | - |
| Jesse Chavez | 775,000 | ARB | ARB | - | - |
| Kurt Suzuki | 650,000 | - | - | - | - |
| Fernando Rodrguez | 600,000 | ARB | ARB | ARB | - |
| Dan Otero | - | - | - | - | - |
| Eric Sogard | - | ARB | ARB | ARB | UFA |
| A.J. Griffin | - | - | - | - | - |
| Derek Norris | - | - | - | - | - |
| Chris Gimenez | ARB | ARB | ARB | UFA | - |
| Josh Reddick | ARB | ARB | ARB | UFA | - |
| Nate Freiman | - | - | - | - | - |
| Sean Doolittle | - | - | - | - | - |
| Josh Donaldson | - | - | - | - | - |
| Evan Scribner | - | ARB | ARB | ARB | UFA |
| Ryan Cook | - | ARB | ARB | ARB | UFA |
| Tommy Milone | - | ARB | ARB | ARB | UFA |
| Drew Pomeranz | - | - | - | - | - |
| Josh Lindblom | - | ARB | ARB | ARB | UFA |
| Jarrod Parker | - | ARB | ARB | ARB | UFA |
| Fernando Abad | UFA | - | - | - | - |
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com and their partners***
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Tagged: A.J. Griffin, alberto callaspo, barry zito, billy beane, brandon moss, brett anderson, chris gimenez, chris young, coco crisp, Craig Gentry at Jesse Chavez, Dan Otero, daric barton, derek norris, drew pomeranz, eric chavez, eric o'flaherty, eric sogard, evan scribner, fernando abad, fernando rodriguez, hiroyuki nakajima, jason giambi, jed lowrie, jim johnson, john jaso, johnny damon, josh donaldson, Josh Lindblom Jarrod Parker, josh reddick, kurt suzuki, luke gregerson, mark Mulder, Miguel Tejada, nate freiman, nick punto, o.co coliseum, ryan cook, scott kazmir, sean doolittle, tim hudson, Tom Milone, yoenis cespedes
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