By Jim Shonerd
January 19, 2010


Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2009.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Chris Carter, of/1b 2. Michael Taylor, of 3. Grant Green, ss 4. Max Stassi, c 5. Pedro Figueroa, lhp 6. Tyson Ross, rhp 7. Jemile Weeks, 2b 8. Grant Desme, of 9. Adrian Cardenas, inf 10. Sean Doolittle, of

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Michael Taylor Best Power Hitter Chris Carter Best Strike-Zone Discipline Josh Horton Fastest Baserunner Tyreace House Best Athlete Rashun Dixon Best Fastball Henry Rodriguez Best Curveball Michael Ynoa Best Slider Tyson Ross Best Changeup James Simmons Best Control Mickey Storey Best Defensive Catcher Max Stassi Best Defensive Infielder Grant Green Best Infield Arm Gregorio Pettit Best Defensive Outfielder Tyreace House Best Outfield Arm Robin Rosario

PROJECTED 2013 LINEUP

Catcher Max Stassi First Base Sean Doolittle Second Base Jemile Weeks Third Base Adrian Cardenas Shortstop Grant Green Left Field Michael Taylor Center Field Rajai Davis Right Field Grant Desme Designated Hitter Chris Carter No. 1 Starter Brett Anderson No. 2 Starter Trevor Cahill No. 3 Starter Pedro Figueroa No. 4 Starter Tyson Ross No. 5 Starter Vin Mazzaro Closer Andrew Bailey

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2009 2000 Mark Mulder, lhp Free agent (injured) 2001 Jose Ortiz, 2b Saltillo (Mexico) 2002 Carlos Pena, 1b Rays 2003 Rich Harden, rhp Cubs 2004 Bobby Crosby, ss Athletics 2005 Nick Swisher, of Yankees 2006 Daric Barton, 1b Athletics 2007 Travis Buck, of Athletics 2008 Daric Barton, 1b Athletics 2009 Brett Anderson, lhp Athletics

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2009 2000 Freddie Bynum, ss (2nd round) Nationals 2001 Bobby Crosby, ss Athletics 2002 Nick Swisher, of Yankees 2003 Brad Sullivan, rhp Out of baseball 2004 Landon Powell, c Athletics 2005 Cliff Pennington, ss Athletics 2006 Trevor Cahill, rhp (2nd round) Athletics 2007 James Simmons, rhp Athletics 2008 Jemile Weeks, 2b Athletics 2009 Grant Green, ss Athletics

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Michael Ynoa, 2008 $4,250,000 Mark Mulder, 1998 $3,200,000 Grant Green, 2009 $2,750,000 Jemile Weeks, 2008 $1,910,000 Nick Swisher, 2002 $1,780,000

ATHLETICS LINKS

Athletics' Team Page Athletics Top 10 Scouting Reports  Last Year's Athletics Top 10 Prospects 2009 Draft: Athletics (Basic Database) 2009 Draft: Athletics  (Advanced Database) 2009 Draft Report Cards: Oakland Athletics  Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2010 Prospect Handbook

The Athletics returned to prominence in the 2000s, claiming four division titles and making the playoffs five times in seven seasons from 2000-06. But the decade ended on a down note as they posted their third consecutive losing season in 2009, going 75-87 for their worst record and first last-place finish in 11 years.

Only a few holdovers remain from Oakland's run in the early part of the decade, most notably oft-injured third baseman Eric Chavez. The A's are trying to rebuild around young pitching, and last year's team featured the majors' youngest rotation, with all six of its regular members age 25 or younger.

Foremost among that group were Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill, the team's top two prospects entering last year. Both held their own as 21-year-olds making their big league debuts, and they were the only Oakland pitchers to post double-digit win totals. Anderson was especially impressive, going 6-4, 3.48 with 86 strikeouts in 88 innings after the all-star break.

Dallas Braden and rookies Gio Gonzalez, Vin Mazzaro and Josh Outman joined them in the rotation. Outman fared the best, going 4-1, 3.58 in 12 starts, but he went down with elbow problems in June and needed Tommy John surgery.

Another rookie, righthander Andrew Bailey, took over as closer in late May. He went on to win the American League rookie of the year award after converting 26 of 30 save opportunities and leading all major league relievers in opponent average (.167) and strikeouts per nine innings (9.8).

While Oakland's pitching kept the team competitive, ranking fourth in the AL with a 4.29 ERA, the same couldn't be said of the offense (ninth in scoring, last in home runs) and defense (second-most unearned runs allowed). General manager Billy Beane traded for Matt Holliday last offseason, but the slugger couldn't match his production with the Rockies. Beane flipped Holliday to the Cardinals in July for a package of three prospects headlined by corner infielder Brett Wallace, then dealt Wallace to the Blue Jays in the offseason for outfielder Michael Taylor (whom the Jays had just obtained from the Phillies in the Roy Halladay deal).

Taylor adds to a mix of nearly-ready hitters the A's hope will give their offense the punch it has lacked. Others on the verge of helping the big league club include first baseman/outfielder Chris Carter (the system's No. 1 prospect), infielder Adrian Cardenas and outfielder Sean Doolittle. With all the graduations to the majors, the pool of pitching prospects at the top of the system has thinned out.

Oakland has invested heavily in scouting and player development the last two year, spending a record $4.25 million in 2008 on Dominican righthander Michael Ynoa—who didn't pitch last season because of elbow problems—and $13 million on the last two drafts. The A's have aggressively signed several players for more than MLB's slot recommendations, including shortstop Grant Green (first round), catcher Max Stassi (fourth) and lefthander Ian Krol (seventh) for a combined $5.125 million last August.

The A's may have to continue a budget-minded approach in the big leagues, however, after abandoning plans to build a new ballpark in Fremont, Calif. The project met heavy resistance from local groups, and with the ballpark's opening continually delayed, the team decided to look elsewhere. San Jose appears to be the new leading candidate, but territorial issues involving the Giants may hamper that plan.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects  (How to subscribe)

Pre-Order the 2010 Prospect Handbook 30 scouting reports on every team