Minor League Minute: Cardenas, Parker, & More!!
By Joseph Lopez
As most of you probably know, the A’s designated Adrian Cardenas for assignment last week. Cardenas, 24, was a victim of the organization’s uncertainty. It’s not like Cardenas is a terrible player, it’s just that the A’s don’t know where exactly he fits in. He definitely doesn’t fit in at second, with that spot now belonging to Jemile Weeks.
Perhaps third base you say? Well, not likely. Scott Sizemore is the king of the hot corner for now until the A’s can find someone else to anchor the position. Cardenas could play in the outfield, but the A’s currently have a very crowded outfield corp right now. Guys like Coco Crisp, Jonny Gomes, Josh Reddick, Seth Smith, and Michael Taylor are all vying for playing time in the outfield.
Sadly, Cardenas is the odd man out. While the team’s top-brass contends that they’d love to keep Cardenas, the A’s simply don’t seem to have a spot for the 24-year old. For those of you wondering how he performed last year, Cardenas hit .314/.374/.418 with 5 HR and 51 RBIs.
Stephen Parker, though, may find a spot with the team in the coming years. Jane Lee of MLB.com takes a look at Parker’s future with the franchise and says that Parker’s power potential is definitely there. Power, for the A’s, anyway, is a scarce commodity. The team lacks power, but as Lee notes in her quick evaluation of Parker, the team wouldn’t be wrong for looking to add to their list of third base prospects.
Third base, as you know, isn’t a stacked position for the A’s. It hasn’t been since the early days of one Eric Chavez. Since Chavez’s departure or decline into irrelevancy, that is, the A’s haven’t had a consistent performer at the hot corner. Guys like Kevin Kouzmanoff have come and gone, but the team hasn’t found the right successor just yet.
Sizemore offers some production, but I’m not entirely sold on his long-term future with the organization. If Parker’s defense can improve and his power numbers return, he should get a crack at anchoring a position the A’s haven’t had much luck in filling.
Oakland’s other Parker, Jarrod Parker, should get his shot this spring at cracking Oakland’s starting rotation. He’ll have some stiff competition, but the A’s will likely take a look at each candidate while deciding the fate of their starting rotation. With Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez out of the picture, the team will definitely have to work together in finding the right arms to include in this year’s starting five.
Another guy Oakland will give ample time to prove himself is Chris Carter. The dude knows how to play…in the minor leagues, that is. It’s making the jump from the minors to the majors that is preventing Carter from establishing himself as a household name. The power-hungry A’s and their powerless offense would do wonders if they only had a productive Carter hitting in the middle of the lineup.
It’s now or never for Carter.
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