25-year old lefty swinging Ryan Sweeney is penciled in as the starting RF heading into spring training. Sweeney played in 134 games for the A’s last season in which he was 142 of 484 (.293 avg, .755 OPS) with 68 runs scored, 6 homers, 53 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Sweeney made 2 errors in 85 games in RF last season while showing outstanding range. He also had 5 assists showing a very strong throwing arm for the A’s in RF. Sweeney doesn’t have the power of a regular right fielder in the majors but he is a good defender who will hit for a nice average.

31-year old lefty swinging Gabe Gross was signed over the winter and he will get in on the action in RF in 2010. Gross played in 115 games for the Rays last season and he was 64 of 282 (.227 avg, .681 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 6 homers, 36 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Gross made 3 errors in 100 games in RF last season while showing above average range. He also has a decent throwing arm as he had 6 assists while in RF last season. What you see is what you get with Gross.

26-year old lefty swinging Travis Buck will have a uphill battle winning playing time in RF for the A’s in 2010. Buck played in 28 error-free games in RF last season for the A’s while showing outstanding range. But, he has a pop gun arm as he didn’t have any assists in RF in 2009.

31-year old lefty swinging Jack Cust is the A’s starting DH and that is where they should leave him. He played in 51 games for the A’s last season in which he made 2 errors while showing awful range. He did have 1 assist in RF so his arm is just a tad stronger than Buck’s.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RF IN 2010: C-

30-year old switch hitting Coco Crisp will take over as the starting CF for the A’s in 2010. He played in 49 games for the Royals last season in which he was 41 of 180 (.228 avg, .714 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 3 homers, 14 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Crisp missed most of last year due to a shoulder injury so the A’s expect him to hit more to his career norms of .277 with a .738 OPS (in 832 games). Crisp made 3 errors in 49 games in CF last season while showing slightly below average range. Crisp is a better defender than he showed last season and his health will be the key to his 2010 season.

29-year old righty swinging Rajai Davis will likely get some P.T. in CF in 2010. He played in 113 games for the A’s in CF last season making 4 errors while showing good range. Davis also showed a gun from CF as he had 8 assists there last season for the A’s.

25-year old lefty swinging Ryan Sweeney will also likely get some action in CF in 2010. Sweeney played in 57 games in CF last season making 1 error while showing outstanding range. Sweeney also showed a good arm in CF as he had 4 assists there in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CF IN 2010: B-

Going into spring training it appears as if 29-year old righty swinging Rajai Davis will be the starting LF at the start of the 2010 season for the A’s. Davis played in 125 games for the A’s last season in which he was 119 of 390 (.305 avg, .784 OPS) with 65 runs scored, 3 homers, 48 RBIs and 41 stolen bases. Davis got most of his playing time in CF last season so he should have no problem handling LF for the A’s in 2010.

26-year old lefty swinging Travis Buck is currently in the Dog House for the A’s but he still has a lot of talent. Buck played in 36 games for the A’s last season and he was 23 of 105 (.219 avg, .620 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 3 homers and 10 RBIs. Buck has a career batting average of .257 with a .771 OPS in 156 games in the majors so expect him to hit better than he did in 2010 if he plays for the A’s at some point in 2010. Buck played in 5 error-free games in LF last season for the A’s.

24-year old righty swinging Michael Taylor is the LF of the future for the A’s and that could come at some point in the 2010 season. Taylor played in 116 games in AA+AAA ball last season in which he was 137 of 428 (.320 avg, .944 OPS) with 74 runs scored, 20 homers, 84 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. I really think that Taylor will be up with the A’s after the All-Star Break in 2010 and he will do well.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE LF IN 2010: B-