The A’s have signed 29-year old lefty swinging 3B Dallas McPherson to a minor league deal. McPherson did not play ball in the U.S. last season. In 2008, McPherson played in 127 games in AAA-ball and he was 123 for 448 (.275 avg, .997 OPS) with 94 runs scored, 42 homers, 98 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. He has now played in 128 games in his major league career and he is 91 for 371 (.245 avg, .756 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 18 homers and 45 RBIs. McPherson has also whiffed 126 times in his major league career so that has to be a concern. This was a nice gamble for the A’s though as they have a need at 3B and McPherson definitely has the power to fill the position.

Kurt Suzuki is not the kind of player that you build a franchise around but he is a very solid baseball player. He is a good defensive catcher and he is a above average hitter for the position. He has played in 363 games in his career with the A’s and he is 357 for 1,313 (.272 avg, .727 OPS) with 155 runs scored, 29 homers, 169 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. The A’s need to add more offense in the off-season as Suzuki is not really a top of the order hitter.

21-year old lefty starting pitcher Brett Anderson finished in sixth place for the Rookie of the Year Award in the A.L. Anderson pitched in 30 games (all starts) for the A’s last season and he was 11-11 with a 4.06 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He whiffed 150 batters while only walking 45 batters in 175 1/3 innings showing that he has good stuff and control. Anderson really seemed to get it the last three months of the year when he started 14 games in which he was 6-4 with a 3.48 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He also whiffed 86 batters in only 88 innings in those 14 starts. If Anderson continues to improve the next award he will be getting votes for is the Cy Young Award.

25-year old right reliever Andrew Bailey has won the American League Rookie of the Year Award. This is quite a story as Joey Devine was in line to be the closer but he injured himself in spring training causing him to miss the entire 2009 season. Next up for the closer’s job was side arming righty Brad Ziegler but he pitched himself out of the job. So that’s when Andrew Bailey got his big chance to close for the A’s and he ran with the job. Bailey pitched in 68 games (0 starts) for the A’s last season and he was 6-3 with 26 saves, a 1.84 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. He only allowed 49 hits in 83 1/3 innings last season while he whiffed 91 batters showing just how nasty his stuff was in 2009. Don’t look for Bailey to give up his closer’s job any time soon.