DIVISIONAL OUTLOOK: AL West—The outfield glut in OAK

Oakland Athletics

The big question for OAK manager Bob Melvin this spring is how to find AB for five players who are used to playing every day or being the strong side of a platoon—particularly with DH AB that could be further balkanized by the A's infield depth. All we really know for certain right now is that Yoenis Céspedes (OF/DH, OAK) is a budding star and the heart of the A's offense, which suggests he's going to get regular AB. Melvin has also stated that Coco Crisp (OF, OAK) remains the starting CF, indicating that his running game will again be a factor at the top of the A's lineup as long as he's heathy.

And this may be the key for Melvin, since both Cespedes and Crisp missed a month of playing time due to injuries, with the...

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