Michael Taylor's March and more

Michael Taylor has definitively emerged as the Athletics offensive spring training breakthrough candidate after a .353/.405/.647 slash accumulated thus far between his 37 plate appearances (12-34, 2 HR, 4 2Bs, 2 BB, 8 K, 1 HBP) in an ultimately and irrevalant performance towards his regular season output, but a minimal surge that ought to secure him an initial major league berth regardless. The long stagnant Taylor has starred consistent for Sacramento since arriving within the organization in the Brett Wallace swap, but had only amassed a cumulative 81 MLB plate appearances between three separate campaigns for Oakland, never having received a role outside of a momentary injury replacement or pinch hitting asset. Albeit, Taylor was rightfully putrid in his minuscule sample size (-0.7 fWAR), but the hulking righty shall likely latch onto a suitor this spring with his audition in Phoenix Municipal whether Oakland opts to retain him should there be an injury prior to opening day, namely the currently ailing Craig Gentry, or if they dispose of the out of options corner outfielder and permit him to navigate through waivers; a result which would now undoubtedly translate towards a ballclub wishing to provide Taylor with a major league try. Taylor shall have to thwart regression towards his blazing preseason sample already logged, but if so, then the 28 year old shall finally be granted with a placement he has so long desired. 

Other occurrences amongst the Oakland cast in Phoenix have included a plethora of injuries having bitten various members of the roster, including Addison Russell who has since been sidelined with a hamstring injury that could jeopardize the remainder of his MLB stint. Daric Barton is additionally absent with a hamstring issue, but ought to return within the next week. Ryan Cook and Craig Gentry have yet to debut and both seem hazy towards their March 31st prospects. If either were to be absent, Taylor and Fuld would contend for the initial Gentry replacement and Scribner would likely abscond with Cook's post as the Connecticut native is equally out of options. Derek Norris has since returned following a lengthy bout grappling with frequent back spasms and is now poised to feature for Oakland come April.

UPDATE (3/14):

Jarrod Parker and AJ Griffin have been announced as doubtful for opening day following revealed hindrances in Jarrod's forearm and Griffin's elbow. While the severity is unknown at the moment, both are likely to be absent from the initial rotation sequence for the Athletics upon the arrival of the regular season. Candidates to usurp their posts include Tomaso Milone, Jesse Chavez, Josh Lindblom, Arnold Leon, and Drew Pomeranz. While Chavez is practically guaranteed to be bestowed with a roster berth regardless, his versility could result in Evan Scribner supplanting his bullpen role as both righties have zero options remaining and Oakland will seek out every route possible to provide Scribner with a roster position. Additionally, Zach Neal, Murphy Smith, Drew Granier and Sean Murphy now shall contend for initial Sacramento roster berths as well, with Jeff Urlaub and Nate Long featuring as relieving assets affected positively from this development. 

Additionally, as MiLB contests have since commenced, the Athletics affiliate rosters have been released for public consumption after Shane Peterson, Michael Ynoa and Raul Alcantara were the first 40 man casualties and Jeremy McBryde, Jose Flores, Andrew Werner, Bruce Maxwell and Dusty Brown, who underwent shoulder surgery that'll squander his spring and initial portion of the season, were whisked away from the NRI contingent present --

Sacramento: 

RHP Jesus Castillo

RHP Drew Granier

RHP Sean Murphy

RHP Jeremy McBryde

RHP Paul Smyth

RHP Tanner Peters

LHP Andrew Werner

LHP Jeff Urlaub

RHP Nate Long

RHP Jose Flores 

RHP Zach Neal

RHP Frank Gailey

RHP Brett Hunter

RHP Murphy Smith

C Ryan Lipkin

MI Daniel Robertson (!!)

1B Max Muncy

SS/3B Hiroyuki Nakajima

C Beau Taylor

MI Dusty Coleman

2B Tyler Ladendorf

INF Alden Carrithers

OF Josh Whitaker

OF Chad Oberacker

3B Jefry Marte

OF D'Arby Myers

OF Shane Peterson

C Ryan Ortiz

OF Jake Goebbert

Midland: 

LHP Trey Barham

RHP Manaurys Correa

RHP Josh Bowman

RHP Raul Alcantara

LHP Omar Duran

RHP Blake Hassebrock

RHP Ryan Dull

LHP Jeremy Barfield

RHP Austin House

RHP Michael Ynoa

RHP Ryan Doolittle

RHP Seth Frankoff

RHP Shawn Haviland

RHP Jonathan Joseph

RHP Nolan Sanburn

RHP Seth Streich

RHP Chris Jensen

2B Sam Roberts

3B Renato Nuñez

1B Matt Olson

C Bruce Maxwell

C Phil Pohl

2B Antonio Lamas

MI Wade Kirkland

3B Miles Head

3B BA Vollmuth

OF Billy McKinney (!!)

OF Dusty Robinson

OF Rashun Dixon

OF Myrio Richard

OF Bobby Crocker

C Nick Rickles

Stockton: 

RHP Sam Bragg

RHP Tucker Healy 

RHP Tim Atherton

RHP Kyle Finnegan

LHP Chris Lamb

LHP Chris Kohler

RHP Ronald Herrera

RHP Lou Trivino

LHP Brent Powers

RHP Bobby Wahl

RHP Dominique Vattuone

RHP Andres Avila

RHP Derek DeYoung

RHP Dylan Covey

RHP Kris Hall

RHP Tyler Vail

C Andy Paz

OF Jaycob Brugman

OF Dayton Alexander

2B Yairo Muñoz (!!) 

C Ryan Gorton 

3B/1B Ryon Healy

1B Ryan Huck

SS Chad Pinder

2B Melvin Mercedes

C Josh Miller

OF Aaron Shipman

OF Brett Vertigan

OF Ryan Mathews

Beloit: 

RHP Dustin Driver

RHP Carlos Navas

LHP Dillon Overton

RHP Tyler Hollstegge

RHP Lee Sosa

LHP Matt Stalcup

LHP Jerad Grundy

RHP Jesus Zambrano

RHP Kayvon Bahramzadeh

RHP Hunter Adkins

RHP Junior Mendez

RHP Tyler Johnson

RHP Trevor Bayless

RHP Stuart Pudenz

RHP Travis Pitcher

2B/SS Jesus Lopez

SS Edwin Diaz

C Santiago "Jose" Chavez (!!)

C Iolana Akau

C Seongmin Kim

OF Bijon Boyd

OF Boogie Powell

1B Luis Baez

1B Michael Soto

MI Chih-Fang Pan

C Kyle Wheeler

OF Justin Higley

OF Tyler Marincov

MI Chris Wolfe