Three potential offseason targets for the Oakland A's

Just about everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for the Oakland A's this season, leaving the team facing an(other) offseason of uncertainty but clear opportunities for improvement across the roster. 

C.J. Cron, 1B, Los Angeles Angels

An older first baseman with a decent glove and power potential likely looking at a one-year deal in free agency with the hopes of re-establishing some value? Cron seems like just the kind of deal the A's should be pursuing in free agency rather than waiting until spring training is close and picking from what's left. The club doesn't want a repeat of the Jesus Aguilar signing ($3M for 115 plate appearances before the team released Aguilar in June).  

Cron will turn 34 before Opening Day but he's a lifetime .260/.320/.471 hitter. Detractors will point to Colorado's hitter-friendly atmosphere helping Cron's two best individual seasons but he's been a productive hitter everywhere he's played and remained healthy. He could provide some stability at first base, provide some power to the lineup, and bring some veteran leadership to a young clubhouse. 

Michael Brantley, DH, Houston Astros

Another guy who falls in the "veteran bat, clubhouse leader, likely looking at a one-year deal" bucket, like Cron. Brantley is less of an obvious fit, however, due to his defensive limitations. A longtime corner outfielder with the Indians and Astros, injuries have limited him to just 65 games over the last two seasons. Houston just activated Brantley from the 60-day IL this week. 

Over his 15-year career, Brantley is a .297/.355/.438 hitter. He's made five All-Star appearances and finished third in MVP voting in 2014. Injuries (he's just returning from a torn labrum in his shoulder) and age, Brantley will be 36 in May, could play a factor in his offseason decisions. Brantley may prefer to return to Houston where things are familiar if he doesn't consider retirement. 

Noah Syndergaard, RHP, Free Agent

Once among the game's most popular and productive starters, the results have completely disappeared for Syndergaard in recent years since returning from Tommy John surgery. Over his six seasons with the New York Mets he posted a 3.32 ERA and was worth 13.7 bWAR but the Mets let him test free agency coming off the injury. In each of the two years since he's signed only a one-year deal and both times he's been traded midseason. 

While the results haven't been there -- a 2-8 record, 6.50 ERA, and a career-low 5.7 K/9 over 88.2 IP this year between the Dodgers and Guardians, who designated him for assignment earlier in the week -- teams still clearly believe that Syndergaard has something left in the tank still. Whether those teams view him moving forward as a starter or reliever is unclear. The A's may be able to offer him a role in the rotation that others won't.