Oakland Athletics Need These Five Free Agents in 2016

Aug 1, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Jean Segura (9) completes a double play after forcing out Chicago Cubs center fielder Dexter Fowler (24) in the fifth inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland Athletics’ Best Option:
Dexter Fowler, OF
Age: 29

Dexter Fowler has historically offered teams a nice mix of speed, on-base ability and a touch of power. While he has struggled this season in terms of average, that might just push him into the Oakland Athletics’ price range. In his final year of arbitration, Fowler made $9.5 million with the Cubs, although some might say he’s still earned it.

He is batting just .238, this season but he’s still managed to pull together a .715 OPS and swipe 17 bases. Fowler also plays a strong outfield, and in 890 games over eight seaon with the Rockies, Astros and Cubs, he’s averaged .266/.362/.415.

He could be just a bit too expensive for the A’s though. And in that case…

The Lite Version:
Rajai Davis, OF
Age: 34

Rajai Davis is certainly getting older. He’s only swiped 17 bags this season, and is batting just .251/.305/.410 for the Detroit Tigers. And yet, there are plenty of reason to like him. For instance, his career strikeout rate is just 16.9 percent, and this season, 40 percent of his hits have gone for extra bases.

Davis still has speed, but when a player bats in front of Ian Kinsler, Miguel Cabrera and the Martinezes, there’s no reason to take extra chances. Davis’s decline in stolen bases reflects this, even though some of the slow-down is admittedly due to age. No, he won’t swipe 50 bags, like he did in his final season for Oakland, but he will make a much bigger impact than Fuld would.

But they aren’t the only free agent outfielders who will be on the open market:

Next: Outfielder: Nori Aoki, or...