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-