OAKLAND, CA - The A's have a lot to figure out in a short amount of time this spring.
The outfield alignment, the first-base spot, the rotation, the closer all are unsettled as the team goes to Phoenix, and the club then leaves again on March 21, heading to Japan for the season-opening series with Seattle.
Even the roster isn't totally finished, as the A's are considering adding a designated hitter before position players arrive, with Manny Ramirez the leading candidate, followed by last year's DH, Hideki Matsui, and Magglio Ordonez, coming off a serious ankle injury.
First base is the most wide-open, with no clear frontrunner.
Brandon Allen put together a good streak when he arrive in Oakland last August, and then he fell off.
Daric Barton had a disappointing start to the 2011 season, was sent down, and he wound up having shoulder surgery.
Kila Ka'aihue, claimed on waivers, will get a long look, and Chris Carter remains an intriguing possibility because of his power, but he has yet to produce consistently in brief stints with the A's.
The final two spots of the rotation must be determined, though the A's hope left-hander Brett Anderson will be able to return by August after his 2011 Tommy John surgery.
Left-hander Tommy Milone is the favorite for the fourth spot, and right-hander Graham Godfrey, who made a handful of starts for the A's last season, leads the pack for the final spot.
Tyson Ross, Jarrod Parker and Brad Peacock also are in the running.
Dallas Braden is expected to be ready to pitch when the A's need a fifth starter on April 16, as he'll get a little extra time to come back from shoulder capsule surgery.
Braden still will be considered the No. 3 starter after Brandon McCarthy and Bartolo Colon.
Recently signed outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is likely to be in center field, according to initial reports, with Coco Crisp shifting to left, although the alignment could change as the spring progresses.
Crisp is considered the better defensive center fielder, and he told the San Francisco Chronicle that he believes he belongs there.
Left-hander Brian Fuentes has the most experience closing among the A's bullpen options. Grant Balfour is coming off the better season and Joey Devine would be an intriguing possibility if he returns to his pre-Tommy John surgery form.
Devine was 6-1 with an 0.59 ERA in 2008, but the elbow problems interfered with his last three seasons.
Oakland also has a big-picture question this spring, as the team continues to await a decision about its stadium situation.
USA Today