A's have decisions to make before Opening Day
Five weeks have passed since MLB.com attempted to make a pre-Spring Training Opening Day roster prediction for the A's, and only two weeks remain until the club opens the regular season.
Question marks still abound, so here is a fresh look at how Oakland's roster could shape up.
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Catcher (2): Jonathan Lucroy and Bruce Maxwell
The A's deviated from their original plan to have Maxwell and Josh Phegley form a platoon when Lucroy became available to them. Lucroy signed a one-year, $6.5 million deal on Monday, and he steps in as the everyday catcher. Maxwell is the favorite to back him up.
First base (1): Matt Olson
Olson, a budding star, will man first base on Opening Day. Remember when he hit 24 home runs in just 59 games as a rookie last year? That was fun.
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Second base (1):Jed Lowrie
Lowrie remains healthy and is set to return for his 11th big league season and his third straight as Oakland's second baseman. Franklin Barreto, the organization's top position prospect, is enjoying a productive spring, but he'll have to wait his turn in Triple-A.
Third base (1): Matt Chapman
Though the alarm sounded when Chapman underwent an MRI on his sore right hand before Cactus League games started, the third baseman has health back on his side and will be at the hot corner on Opening Day.
Shortstop (1):Marcus Semien
Semien is 12-for-30 (.400) this spring, proving his wrist injury is a thing of the past. All of his hits have been singles, but the power-hitting shortstop expects the homers to return with time.
Designated hitter (1):Khris Davis
Davis has continued to clock time in the outfield this spring, but he'll primarily be at DH when the regular season begins.
Utility (1):Chad Pinder
Pinder is expected to platoon with Matt Joyce in left field, but he'll also be asked to spell the middle infielders at times. The A's do-it-all man does have competition behind him: the versatile Sheldon Neuse, who has impressed on both sides of the ball this spring, could be up at some point this season.
Outfield (4): Joyce, Dustin Fowler, Stephen Piscotty, Jake Smolinski
Because of Oakland's likely need for eight relievers, the club will only be able to carry one backup outfielder, who will be asked to assist Fowler in center. Smolinski is seemingly favored. Mark Canha is also in battle for the spot, as is Boog Powell, but the latter bats left-handed, which works against him when the need is for a right-handed hitter.
Rotation (5): Kendall Graveman, Sean Manaea, Daniel Mengden, Paul Blackburn, A.J. Puk
The A's still lack clarity here. Graveman and Manaea are locks, but they're keeping mum beyond that. With Jharel Cotton set to undergo Tommy John surgery, the favorites to fill out the rotation appear to be Mengden, Blackburn and Andrew Triggs.
Bullpen (8): Triggs, Blake Treinen, Chris Hatcher, Emilio Pagan, Yusmeiro Petit, Ryan Buchter, Danny Coulombe, Liam Hendriks
Under the assumption that Triggs is in here, that leaves seven jobs. Santiago Casilla is the odd man out in that case, while Ryan Dull, slowed by right shoulder discomfort this spring, isn't expected to be ready by Opening Day.