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Today we stay in the west, but switch over to the American League. We start the process with the revamped and big-spending (for them) Oakland A's.

The Oakland Athletics

Last Season’s Result: 75-86, 3rd place in the AL West.

Major Offseason Changes

• Added OF Matt Holliday (Trade with Colorado)
• Added SS Orlando Cabrera (Signed from Chicago White Sox)
• Added IF Nomar Garciaparra (Signed from Los Angeles Dodgers)
• Added 1B Jason Giambi (Signed from New York Yankees)
• Added RP Russ Springer (Signed from St. Louis)
• Added RP Michael Wuertz (Trade with Chicago Cubs)
• Lost SP Greg Smith (Traded to Colorado)
• Lost RP Huston Street (Traded to Colorado)
• Lost OF Matt Murton (Traded to Colorado)
• Lost OF Emil Brown (Signed minor league deal with San Diego)
• Lost RP Alan Embree (Signed with Colorado)
• Lost 1B Mike Sweeney (Signed with Seattle)
• Lost RP Keith Foulke (Unsigned free agent)
• Lost DH Frank Thomas (Unsigned free agent)

Letter Grades

• Offseason Moves: A+ The A’s did a fantastic job in the 2008 offseason. They added pieces on their terms, giving out only 1-year deals to every one of their free agents. The A’s traded for Matt Holliday, who gives them an MVP caliber outfielder, and is also only signed for this season. The beauty of these moves is that if they don’t result in immediate success and the A’s fail to contend, they can just sell off each piece and acquire younger, cheaper players in return.

• Rotation Grade: C- There’s some promise here, but nobody that has ever been a starting pitcher for even a single full season outside of Dana Eveland’s 29 starts in 2008.

• Bullpen Grade: A- The A’s bullpen was the second best in the AL in 2008. They added Springer and Wuertz while losing Embree and Street, these moves leave the A’s about even with their 2008 group on a talent level, but they’ve yet to name a closer. Brad Ziegler is in the mix, but how can this second-year man be expected to repeat his breakout 2008, which included setting the major league record for most scoreless innings to start a career at 39 innings.

• Lineup Grade: C- The A’s were dead last in runs scored in 2008, and set out to address the problem this offseason. Holliday, Giambi and Cabrera will each be an upgrade offensively. Those three along with Cust, Suzuki, and Chavez give the A’s the basis for a decent lineup.

Player most closely linked to team’s 2009 hopes: Matt Holliday. Matt is going to be the main right-handed hitter on this team, probably hitting between lefty sluggers Jack Cust and Jason Giambi. If Holliday can return to his 2007 form, the A’s will score runs and have a shot at making a run at the Angels for the division crown.

Biggest Breakout Star Potential: Joey Devine. Brad Ziegler will also get a look to be the team’s closer, if Devine can win the job he stands to become a pretty big name, as everyone raves about his stuff. Devine threw 45 innings in 2008 and allowed just 3 earned runs. The kid has the skills, which made trading former closer Huston Street all the easier.

Best Case Scenario: A best case would be a collapse by the now vulnerable Angels. The A’s will be better this season, but I can’t see them winning more than 90 games. That means the Angel would have to be ten games worse than they were in 2008, which could happen after their offseason losses.

Worst Case Scenario: The rotation doesn’t work. As promising as it looks right now, there is a chance that none of their top five guys lasts as a big league starter.

Prediction for 2009: 76-86. 3rd place in the AL West. I just can’t see this rotation, despite its upside, really coming together this season.

Local Thoughts

By: Nico Pemantle of www.AthleticsNation.com

• Letter Grade for Offseason Moves: B+

• Most Essential: Eric Chavez.

• Breakout Potential: Dallas Braden.

• Prediction for 2009: 85-77, 2nd place in a close race.