Oakland A’s have to find room for pair of prospects

Prospects are the lifeblood of the Oakland A’s. That is particularly the case as they look to emerge from their latest fire sale.

There is one problem with that plan; the A’s need to find a way to protect those players. Eventually, they will need to be added to the 40 man roster, necessitating several moves. For this offseason, that means Lawrence Butler and Max Schuemann need to be put on the roster.

Oakland A’s finding spots for Lawrence Butler, Max Schuemann

Butler is an easy decision. Although he has yet to progress beyond High-A, he has displayed an intriguing blend of power and speed during his time in the minors. He posted a solid .265/.351/.457 batting line over his 342 plate appearances, hitting 11 homers and 19 doubles while stealing 11 bases.

There are some issues with Butler. He strikes out far more than anyone would want but has made strides in that department in the Arizona Fall League. If those advances continue, Butler could find himself as a valuable piece that can shuffle around the outfield and at first base.

Schuemann is not a top prospect and is essentially the sort of player that the A’s already have multiple copies of. However, his ability to make contact, impressive speed, and ability to slot around the infield will get him a look, especially as he is an inexpensive option.

There may be other prospects that the A’s look to protect. Likewise, as they opened up several spots on their 40 man roster, they may be looking to add pieces in the Rule V Draft. For now, Butler and Schuemann may be the top options to take those open spaces on the roster.

The Oakland A’s have at least two prospects worth protecting in the Rule V Draft. At least they have plenty of space on the roster.