
Here’s a forecast for how the A’s Opening Night 25-man roster will shake out when final cuts are made Saturday:
Pitchers
John Axford
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R/R -- 6-foot-5 -- 220 pounds
Comment: A closer in past seasons, he’ll pitch as early as the seventh
Chris Bassitt
R/R -- 6-foot-5 – 218 pounds
Athletics
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Comment: Offseason spent training with Sonny Gray has him confident and ready
Sean Doolittle
L/L -- 6-foot-2 – 210 pounds
Comment: Closer is sharpening off-speed stuff, but return of velocity would help
Felix Doubront
L/L -- 6-foot-2 – 240 pounds
Comment: Emerged as fifth starter when Jesse Hahn was sent down
Ryan Dull
R/R -- 5-foot-9 – 175 pounds
Comment: Won a bullpen job with 8 scoreless outings to begin spring
Kendall Graveman
R/R – 6-foot-2 – 202 pounds
Comment: : It’ll be good news if he adds effective changeup to sinker and cutter
Sonny Gray
R/R -- 5-foot-10 – 190 pounds
Comment: Can rest of the rotation follow lead of the Cy Young contender?
Liam Hendriks
R/R – 6-feet – 198 pounds
Comment: Grant Balfour fans rejoice – another hard-throwing Aussie arrives!
Rich Hill
L/L – 6-foot-5 – 220 pounds
Comment: After erratic spring, will veteran hit his stride when games count?
Ryan Madson
R/R – 6-foot-6 – 225 pounds
Comment: A’s need to soak up championship aura from the ex-Royal
Fernando Rodriguez
R/R – 6-foot-3 – 232 pounds
Comment: First time in four seasons with A’s he’ll make Opening Night roster
Marc Rzepczynski Just pronounce that last name “Lefty Specialist”
Catchers
Josh Phegley
R/R – 5-foot-10 – 230 pounds
Comment: One of A’s unheralded bright spots in 2015
Stephen Vogt
L/R – 6-feet – 225 pounds
Comment: He shouldn’t need to be The Man in improved A’s offense
Infielders
Yonder Alonso
L/R – 6-foot-1 – 220 pounds
Comment: Slick-fielding 1st baseman needs to be gap hitter at Coliseum
Mark Canha
R/R – 6-foot-2 – 210 pounds
Comment: He’d also fit in under “outfield” category … and “DH”
Jed Lowrie
S/R – 6-feet – 180 pounds
Comment: Since 2012 he’s been with both A’s and Astros -- twice
Marcus Semien
R/R – 6-feet – 195 pounds
Comment: Doesn’t need to be great at shortstop, just steady
Danny Valencia
R/R – 6-foot-2 – 210 pounds
Comment: Third baseman finally finds a home in starting lineup
Outfield
Billy Burns
S/R – 5-foot-9 – 170 pounds
Comment: If he stays healthy, he’ll surpass last year’s 26 steals
Chris Coghlan
L/R – 6-feet – 195 pounds
Comment: See “Canha, Mark” – utility guy will play everywhere
Coco Crisp
S/R – 5-foot-10 – 185 pounds
Comment: If healthy, he’ll be A’s version of NBA sixth man
Khris Davis
R/R – 5-foot-10 – 195 pounds
Comment: February gift for Bob Melvin – power-hitting left fielder
Josh Reddick
L/R – 6-foot-2 – 195 pounds
Comment: Can his play overshadow talk of his contract status?
Designated hitter
Billy Butler
R/R – 6-feet – 260 pounds
Comment: His bat showed signs of life in spring – will it carry over?
It's tricky with this team because of all the platoons they have, and they could face four lefties out of the gate, which jumbles things up.
But this will be their most common 'A' lineup.
A’s PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP (this will be primary lineup against right-handers):
CF Billy Burns
2B Jed Lowrie
RF Josh Reddick
3B Danny Valencia
C Stephen Vogt
LF Khris Davis
DH Billy Butler
1B Yonder Alonso
SS Marcus Semien
STARTING ROTATION
RHP Sonny Gray
LHP Rich Hill
RHP Chris Bassitt
RHP Kendall Graveman
LHP Felix Doubront