Brent Rooker

Pick a stat, any stat, it doesn't matter. Counting stat, ratio, whatever. It was a personal best for Rooker. His 28.8 percent strikeout rate was still too high and is a concern, since it's rare for a player to repeat a career year. Moving out of the Coliseum and playing in Sutter Health Park, the home field for Triple-A Sacramento River Rats should help assuage regression. After the season, it was reported that Rooker experienced soreness in his right arm for most of the season, ostensibly explaining why Rooker appeared exclusively at DH after only 14 games in the outfield. Rooker is expected to be 100 percent in the spring. He'll start the season with UT-only designation but should pick up outfield eligibility. The initial UT-only status could render a buying opportunity, helping buffer the likely fall off from last season. Rooker inked a five-year, $60 million extension with the Athletics in January, which should put an end to any trade chatter for the foreseeable future. Read Past Outlooks