There is a new era in Oakland and the A’s are poised to welcome new, fresh and exciting faces to the Bay Area. Franklin Barreto made his debut this month, but can the A’s top prospect help lead the organization going forward? We ask our Crystal Ball…
The A’s officially ushered in a new era in Oakland by cutting ties with several veteran players this month. Both Trevor Plouffe and fan favorite Stephen Vogt were designated for assignment.
Vogt’s exit was an emotional one for many A’s fans, but it was a necessary move for the franchise. Plouffe, meanwhile, just did not work out in Oakland. The infielder struggled to find consistency both at the plate and on defense.
Billy Beane and David Forst felt that it was necessary for the team to embrace its young talent after a poor start to the season. First it was Matt Chapman and then, shortly after, Franklin Barreto.
Both Chapman and Barreto figure to be important pieces for the future, but how successful can the young duo be? In particular, how successful can we expect Barreto to be?
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Small Sample Sizes…
Through five games this year, Barreto has hit just .190 (4-for-21) with a home run and a pair of RBIs. It’s an incredibly small and perhaps insignificant sample size for the young infielder.
Prior to his call-up this month, Barreto was slashing .281/.326/.428 with 8 HR and 32 RBI for Triple-A Nashville.
In 2016, Barreto slashed .281/.340/.413 with 10 HR and 50 RBI for Double-A Midland before getting a shot at Triple-A. In limited action with the Sounds in 2016, Barreto collected a homer and three RBIs in four games.
For the A’s, Barreto needs to be that cornerstone piece for the future that many scouts predict he’ll be. Remember, Barreto is part of that infamous Josh Donaldson trade. The A’s gave up Donaldson to the Blue Jays after the 2014 season.
Billy Beane has been credited for plenty of successful trades, but his share of failures have not gone unnoticed. The Donaldson trade, thus far, has favored the Blue Jays. Big Time.
If Barreto were to flop, the trade would likely go down as one of Beane’s greatest blunders. It could, in a way, rival the Matt Holliday trade.
Crystal Ball Says…
The A’s know that this “rebuild” will take some time. The youngsters will need plenty of exposure to big league pitching, but the hope is that they’ll make adjustments. Guys like Chapman, Ryon Healy, and Barreto are expected to carry the A’s into the future.
The core of this group, if maintained over the next few years, has the ability to succeed. Barreto’s short time in the majors has been lackluster, but again, it’s only been five games.
Jed Lowrie is expected to depart the Bay Area before the trade deadline in July. Once Lowrie is out of the lineup, Barreto will have full access to second base. Marcus Semien will assume the duties of shortstop and Chapman should anchor the hot corner.
The core of Barreto, Semien, Chapman is a talented group. It is a group that A’s can continue to build around. Throw in a few young, promising pitchers like Sean Manaea, Jharel Cotton and Kendall Graveman and you have a tough, young team.
Barreto has the ability and skills to help lead the A’s into the future. The A’s just need to make sure they give him their full confidence and attention.
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