Oakland Athletics Organization Discussion

I am now working on the New York Mets Top 20 prospect list. The next team in line is the Oakland Athletics, to be followed by the Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, and Washington Nationals.

Use this team to discuss the Oakland Athletics organization. Some possible points for discussion and consideration:

**Oakland relied heavily on rookies for their unexpected 2012 playoff run, especially on the pitching staff. Rookie starters Jarrod Parker, Tom Milone, A.J. Griffin, and Dan Straily all played key roles down the stretch. Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes was a huge factor in the outfield as well, and Derek Norris handled the catching late in the year.
The question: not counting Cespedes (who has a four-year contract), if you could commit a long-term six year contract to one of the rookies, and only one, who would it be?

**Do you fully trust Straily to hold a rotation spot for 2013?

**What's your action plan for handling pitching prospects Sonny Gray and Brad Peacock?

**What's your draft strategy for 2013? Oakland invested in high school bats Addison Russell and Daniel Robertson in '12. Do you continue that trend?

**As always, feel free to point out any sleepers you like. Are there other Griffins and Strailys on the way up?