OAKLAND ATHLETICS

2005 finish: 88-74, 2^nd place in AL West)

Manager: Ken Macha (4^th season)

Incoming: OF Milton Bradley, RHP Esteban Loaiza, DH/1B Frank Thomas, RHP Chad Gaudin

Long gone: RHP Octavio Dotel, LHP Ricardo Rincon, DH Erubiel Durazo, DH Scott Hatteberg, C Alberto Castillo, OF Andre Ethier

Rotation: LHP Barry Zito, RHP Rich Harden, RHP Esteban Loaiza, RHP Dan Haren, RHP Joe Blanton

Relievers: Closer: RHP Huston Street; Setup men: RHP Justin Duchscherer, RHP Kiko Calero, RHP Jay Witasick, LHP Joe Kennedy, RHP Kirk Saarloos, LHP Ron Flores, RHP Juan Cruz, RHP Chad Gaudin

Regulars: C Jason Kendall, CF Mark Kotsay, SS Bobby Crosby, 3B Eric Chavez, DH Frank Thomas, RF Milton Bradley, 1B Dan Johnson, LF Nick Swisher, 2B Mark Ellis

Role players: C Adam Melhuse, IF Marco Scutaro, OF Bobby Kielty, OF Jay Payton, IF Antonio Perez, OF Charles Thomas, OF Freddie Bynum

The pressure is on: As good as GM Billy Beane’s off-season was, the A’s offense still needs a huge season from Eric Chavez.

Breakout candidate: Dan Johnson fits the A’s mold to a T. His on-base percentages in his 2004-05 seasons at Triple-A Sacramento were .403 and .424.

Rundown: News flash: GM Billy Beane has gone win-now on us. One winter after being forced to deal Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson, Beane is gambling that Esteban Loaiza, Milton Bradley and Frank Thomas – along with healthy, breakout seasons from Rich Harden and Bobby Crosby -- can push his team back into the playoffs. It says here that he will be right, and other than the three-year, $21-million commitment to Loaiza, Beane isn’t mortgaging the future, or exceeding a 2006 operating budget of around $60 million. The Loaiza signing has been questioned in some corners – what free-agent pitcher signing wasn’t this winter? But $7 million-a-season is about the going rate for No. 3-4 starters. Some thought the early Loaiza signing was a precursor to a Barry Zito trade, but Beane wisely is holding onto his ace left-hander, setting up the league’s best rotation outside of the south side of Chicago – assuming Harden approaches 200 innings and wins 15-plus with his dominating stuff. So far this spring, he appears healthy again after undergoing surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Wherever you slot Loaiza, Dan Haren and Joe Blanton, the signing helps on two levels. The back end of the rotation should be stronger, and Kirk Saarloos and Joe Kennedy – who combined for 35 starts with the A’s last season – will make a good bullpen even better by joining AL Rookie of the Year Huston Street, All-Star Justin Duchscherer, Kiko Calero and Jay Witasick. In fact, there may not be a better staff 1-through-11 in the league. Milton Bradley-for-Texas League Player of the Year Andre Ethier is a trade you might have seen go the other way in recent years. In other words, the A’s getting the prospect for the veteran. But Bradley in effect gives manager Ken Macha three center fielders in the starting outfield, and will be playing for a new contract. Each of Bradley’s last three seasons has been injury-shortened, and everybody knows about his issues. But if the A’s can get a .280/15 HR/65 RBI/12 SB/.360 OBP season from him, that has to help an offense that finished sixth in the league in runs, but tied for 11^th in batting average and was last in steals. If not, there is no commitment beyond this season. Thomas, 38, was a virtual spectator for the White Sox’s run to the world championship, but did slam 12 homers in 105 at-bats. A change of scene and improved health could spark a rebound season, and his presence as the right-handed DH is the right fit in the midst of Crosby, Eric Chavez, Bradley, Dan Johnson and Nick Swisher. Assuming Crosby emerges as an elite player at 26, there is every reason to expect an increase in runs scored. The toughest challenge for Ken Macha may be to find enough at-bats for five capable outfielders – Bradley, Mark Kotsay, Swisher, Jay Payton and Bobby Kielty – as well as develop a working arrangement at first base and DH between Thomas, Johnson and Swisher. Projecting a jump from 88 victories into the mid-90s is anything but a stretch – health permitting, of course. The two-year absence from the playoffs will end.

Predicted finish: 1^st place, 92-70

2006 SEASON PREVIEW Click for the latest on your favorite teams AL EAST Baltimore Boston N.Y. Yankees Tampa Bay Toronto NL EAST Atlanta Florida N.Y. Mets Philadelphia Washington AL CENTRAL Chi. White Sox Cleveland Detroit Kansas City Minnesota NL CENTRAL Chi. Cubs Cincinnati Houston Milwaukee Pittsburgh St. Louis AL WEST L.A. Angels Oakland Seattle Texas NL WEST Arizona Colorado L.A. Dodgers San Diego San Francisco

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Sosa’s skin undergoing color change Blog: Victor Zambrano's mother reportedly kidnapped Phillies decline option on Feliz Blyleven: Yanks on top, but dynasty talk premature   Vote, discuss: Will the Yankees repeat in 2010?   Slideshow: Yankees on parade Blog: ‘The Yankees are smug and they are haughty’ World Series rematch? Don’t count it out When confetti runs out, Yankee fans toss files Blog: Tim Lincecum, social pioneer? Um, no Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: