Organization Ranking: 26
I've ranked every farm system, as well as the top 100 MLB prospects for 2015. Below, I've ranked at least the top 10 A's prospects, plus an overview of the system and any other names of note beyond the top 10. I also discuss any prospects who might help the big league club in 2015, one or two prospects whose stock has taken a big hit in the past year, and a sleeper prospect who I think can jump into the main top-100 list for 2016.
Non-Insider subscribers: Check out the free Tampa Bay Rays top-10 prospects report to see what these entail.
Top 10 prospects
1. Matt Olson, 1B
2. Franklin Barreto, SS
3. Matt Chapman, 3B
4. Renato Nunez, 3B
5. Dillon Overton, LHP
6. Raul Alcantara, RHP
7. Chad Pinder, 2B
8. Yairo Munoz, SS
9. Kendall Graveman, RHP
10. Bobby Wahl, RHP
Overview
The A's went for it the last two years, trading away a lot of top prospects, including first-rounders Addison Russell and Billy McKinney, to try to reach the postseason, and then dealing Daniel Robertson to get Ben Zobrist this winter, meaning their top three prospects from last year's list are all out of the organization. Their first-rounder from 2014, Matt Chapman, is a 70 defender at third with power and a 70 or 80 arm -- allegedly mid-90s off the mound -- but his approach has long led to OBP problems, which continued in his pro debut (7 BB in 202 low-A at-bats). I'd love to see the A's try him out at shortstop, where I think he could be average. Renato Nunez might end up an average everyday third baseman; he'd offer power over hits but with enough contact to play, probably a fringy defender at best although he has improved a lot over the last two seasons. He still can be too pull-happy, although that's not unusual for a 20-year-old hitter. Dillon Overton was the Friday night starter at Oklahoma when Jonathan Gray was the Saturday guy, but he blew out his elbow and just came back this past summer. His stuff isn't back to the 92-94 it was before the surgery, but the command returned faster than expected. He's a big leaguer even at 88-89, but a potential mid-rotation guy if he gets his old velocity back.
Chad Pinder is another candidate to move to short with Robertson gone, but like Chapman he has a bit of an allergy to walks that he has to get past. Kendall Graveman came back in the Josh Donaldson deal along with Franklin Barreto and Sean Nolin (12). Graveman's a sinker-cutter guy with great control, generating over 61 percent ground balls in 2014 but not missing a lot of bats; he's a No. 5 starter for now with a chance to be a good four. Nolin's a big lefty with an average fastball and changeup but a stiff delivery that makes adjustments difficult. Bobby Wahl has a good arm but has had a lot of minor injuries that probably will force him to the bullpen for good.
Daniel Gossett (11), their second-round pick last year out of Clemson, is 90-94 with a plus slider and a funky delivery that helps his fastball play up a little bit. They also nabbed Brett Graves (13), a right-hander from the University of Missouri who's a bit more physical and has more fastball but needs a better breaking pitch. Rangel Ravelo, acquired in the Jeff Samardzija trade with the White Sox, is a first baseman with limited tools but solid performances through Double-A; he's a right-handed doubles hitter with maybe 10-15 homer power, controls the zone very well, and might end up an average everyday player at first because he'll get on base.
2015 impact
Graveman, Nolin and Chris Bassitt should be in the mix for any rotation openings in Oakland this year, although it'd be an upset for any to win a spot out of spring training. Right-hander R.J. Alvarez, acquired with Jesse Hahn in the Derek Norris trade, seems likely to spend most of the year in the major league bullpen; he's a fastball-slider guy who kills right-handed hitters but walks too many guys to be a reliable late-game pitcher.
The fallen
Lefty Chris Kohler, No. 4 in their system last year, missed all of 2014 with elbow soreness. Right-hander Dustin Driver missed the year with back trouble, but did touch 96 in instructional league in September. Both were 2013 draft picks -- Kohler in the third round, Driver an over-slot guy in the seventh.
Sleeper
Munoz is a high-risk/high-reward guy, with plus run and throw tools and some strength for at least doubles power. If he stays at short, which he has the raw physical skills to do, he has All-Star upside with the bat.