With spring training having yet to even arrive, the A’s already appear set at so many positions around the diamond.
We know that Coco Crisp (if healthy), Billy Burns and Josh Reddick figure to make up the starting outfield. Barring unforeseen moves, the infield (looking left to right) will feature Danny Valencia, Marcus Semien, Jed Lowrie and Yonder Alonso, with Mark Canha splitting time with Alonso at first and playing some outfield too. Stephen Vogt will be the primary catcher if he recovers on schedule from elbow surgery, and Billy Butler returns as the designated hitter.
So what does that mean for the rest of the roster? Where does the competition come from? Perusing the list of players coming to spring training, here’s a look at three under-the-radar names with a chance to emerge during camp and shake up all that we think we know:
OF Andrew Lambo – He was claimed off waivers from the Pirates way back in early November, before the A’s made their biggest offseason waves by reconstructing the bullpen. Lambo, 27, is a left-handed batter who hit 32 homers in the high minors in 2013. But he hit just .191 in 59 big league games with Pittsburgh spread over three seasons. Because Crisp’s troublesome neck leaves his availability in question, Lambo joins the competition in left field and will battle Sam Fuld and Jake Smolinski to make the club as a backup outfielder. It’s quite possible the A’s carry just four pure outfielders given Canha’s ability to play out there too, so Lambo has his work cut out. But you could point to another left-handed slugger from recent A’s history, Brandon Moss, who didn’t blossom until his late 20’s once he landed in green and gold.
RHP Jarrod Parker – Maybe it’s not accurate to list Parker as “under the radar” since he’s got a substantial track record with Oakland. But considering he’s missed the past two seasons with serious elbow injuries, you can’t consider him a legit rotation contender until he shows he’s pitching pain-free and effectively. However, imagine if he does display his old form in Cactus League games. The A’s rotation is filled with question marks behind ace Sonny Gray, leaving the door open should Parker prove to be a realistic option. The odds are stacked against him, as there’s no known precedent for a big league pitcher coming back from two Tommy John procedures plus another surgery after fracturing the same elbow. But it’s possible that Parker, 27, also turns out to be a relief option, which would add some spice to the bullpen competition.
[STIGLICH: Six A's prospects to watch during spring training]
2B Joey Wendle – With Lowrie slated to start at second and Eric Sogard a trusted utility infielder, Wendle faces an uphill battle to crack the roster. But the A’s saw something they liked in this guy when they acquired him from Cleveland for Moss last winter. Wendle drew strong reviews from the coaching staff last spring, then he found his batting stroke in the second half of 2015 at Triple-A and finished as the Pacific Coast League hits leader. His defense is the question mark, and his chances of breaking camp with the big club depend on his improvement with the glove. Wendle turns 26 in April, so if he’s going to make his move, it needs to happen soon.
