[Hendu Style]

2019 Season Preview

Last Season: 86-76 (2nd in AL West, lost to LAA in Divisional Round)
Predicted Finish This Season: 103-59 (1st in AL West)


A new ballpark and billionaire owner have freed the A's from the shackles of small market baseball, landing several high-priced players via free agency and trades during the offseason. The team will look to reach the postseason for a seventh consecutive time in 2019 with a revamped rotation and beefed up lineup. Anything less than a League Championship Series appearance would be considered a failure for the A's this season.


Outfield:
Bryce Harper (.318, 32 HR, 107 RBI for Washington) is the main attraction here, signing a free agent deal in the offseason that will net him an average of nearly $30 million per season. The 2015 NL MVP will become the A's everyday centerfielder, after playing predominantly as a corner outfielder for the Nationals. Sancho Fajardo (.278, 6 HR, 93 R), the AL's steals leader in 2018, will split will remain San Jose's starting rightfielder while serving as the team's leadoff hitter in his second full big league season. Hunter Morris (.249, 19 HR, 76 RBI) will make the move from first base to left field, while Louie Lechich (.285, 16 HR, 64 RBI for Baltimore) figures to be in the lineup against right-handed pitchers, and Yeison Asencio (.279, 14 HR, 81 RBI for San Diego) sees time in the outfield and DH.


Infield:
Jurickson Profar (.272, 16 HR, 34 2B for Texas) returns to his natural shortstop position after playing at second base for the Rangers. The two-time Gold Glove winner is a big upgrade over the injury-prone Addison Russell up the middle. Second base, though, will be a big question mark, with Cory Spangenburg (.264 in 18-game call-up for San Diego) and utility man Wilmer Flores (.303, 8 HR, 55 RBI in 108 games) platooning at that position. Flores will also platoon at first base with Cuban slugger Arturo Baca (.286, 1 HR, 7 RBI during Spring Training).

Third base is also looking like a shared position on a platoon-heavy team. Chad Lewis (.220, 3 HR in 64 games) looks to rebound from an abysmal rookie campaign, wowing coaches in Spring Training with a .423 average and 10 RBI in 26 Cactus League at-bats. Rookie Will Craig (.279, 38 HR in AAA Sacramento and AA Midland) will push Lewis for playing time at the hot corner, by far San Jose's weakest position.

Catcher is a position of strength for the A's, as Travis d'Arnaud (.261, 21 HR, 83 RBI) returns for a fourth full season in the Bay Area. He admits he was much more comfortable hitting on the road the last two seasons outside of AT&T Park, and could benefit from a move to the more hitter-friendly Cisco Field in San Jose. He will be backed up by power-hitting rookie Mike Stewart (.261, 31 HR in 96 games for AAA Sacramento).


Starting Rotation:
The A's will have a whopping four All-Star pitchers in their rotation when they open the season in 2019. 2-time NL Cy Young winner Stephen Strasburg (17-7, 2.49 ERA, 238 K for San Diego) headlines the list as the team's clear ace. Former Cy Young winner Dylan Bundy (17-9, 3.29 ERA, 265 K for Baltimore) gives the A's a feared 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation which could prove lethal come the postseason.

The A's Opening Day starter from last season, Cliff Jensen (14-10, 3.05 ERA, 187 K) returns for his second full big league season and will give San Jose an obvious upperhand at the #3 spot in the rotation. Taijuan Walker (10-8, 3.69 ERA, 171 K) has yet to reach his high ceiling, though he's only two years removed from an All-Star season and could benefit from the lower expectations as a #4 starter.

Danny Salazar (6-9, 5.64 ERA for Cleveland) dazzled the A's with an impressive spring, winning two of his three Cactus League starts while posting a 0.75 ERA. He beat out Michael Ynoa for the fifth spot on the staff, though the A's have several young pitchers waiting in AAA should Salazar falter.


Bullpen:
Ryan Cook (4-2, 1.78 ERA, 3 saves) flopped miserably in Spring Training after being given a shot at earning the team's closer role, blowing 3 of 8 save opportunities and recording a 5.23 ERA. Mark Montgomery (5-5, 2.75 ERA, 37 saves) should be the A's closer once the season starts, but that's far from a sure thing.

Sean Doolittle (4-3, 3.47 ERA, 107 K in 70 innings) gives the A's a go-to lefty set-up man. Rookies Lou Barnes, Andrew Brockett, and Mike Harris will all join the bullpen for the upcoming season, giving San Jose one of the youngest 'pens in baseball. Harris will be the biggest question mark, making the transition from starting pitcher in the minors to set-up man in the majors. The former first-round pick has a fastball that tops out at 96 mph, and a devastating curveball. He struggled to find a changeup in the minors, but should make for a very capable two-pitch reliever in the majors.