You're an Oakland Athletic, you are a part of something a little bit different. You're in an organization that must be creative to be competitive, and it is something it has done pretty well. Part of being an A's player is an openness to things like platoon play, a varying role in the bullpen, lineup and defensive adjustments, and perhaps most difficult, player turnover.
Clubhouse chemistry is so often misunderstood. It is sometimes dismissed as silliness or a non-factor, mostly because it is unquantifiable. I have often said I wouldn't pay for things like leadership and clubhouse chemistry, but they are nice ancillary benefits if you can get them from players and they do matter. I'll take talent and production every time and rely on my manager to keep things going well in the clubhouse.
With that said, it's impossible to ignore the changes in the A's clubhouse and what effect they could have on its roster next Opening Day. A roster that likely still has changes coming.
Last season the A's traded away Yoenis Cespedes, and not long thereafter the offense collectively slumped. Oakland's hitters batted .225 and slugged .331 from August 1 through the end of the season, both the worst in baseball. Now the A's will start next season without their best player in Josh Donaldson.
The loss of Cespedes' bat was not the sole reason the A's struggled so badly at the plate the last two months of the 2014 season, but his presence was certainly missed. As Stephen Vogt, John Jaso and Brandon Moss all slumped following the Cespedes trade, it was apparent they were pressing and trying to do more with Cespedes gone. Some were even open about it.
This latest move has already resulted in reaction in Oakland:
Josh Reddick says it's clear to him and other #Athletics players that team is now in rebuilding mode.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) November 29, 2014
Whether Reddick is right is inconsequential. What matters is the message that was perceived by the current A's players.
This is where Bob Melvin comes in. He'll have his hands full, he also hates that he lost his best player. Now he'll have to convince his players, and more specifically his hitters, they can still win despite losing another key piece to their lineup. That won't be easy, it didn't go particularly well last time.
