Oakland
Athletics

News: McPherson has signed a minor league deal with Oakland.
Impact: The A's have invited him to spring training to be a part of their competition for the starting job at third base. Health has been McPherson's biggest hurdle in recent seasons, but he could be a low-cost stopgap for the A's if they decide that top prospect Brett Wallace isn't quite ready for the job by Opening Day. McPherson missed the entire 2009 season with back trouble, so it remains to be seen if he'll be able to offer the A's anything this time around. 

News: According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the A's have signed former Angels prospect Dallas McPherson to a minor league contract.
Impact: This is basically the A's taking a low-risk gamble and giving a once formidable power hitting prospect a second chance. McPherson will get an invite to spring training and compete for the opening at third base in Oakland, but it remains to be seen if he has anything left in the tank. After putting up a .568 slugging percentage in the minors he was never able to get it done at the big league level hitting just .245 with 18 homers and 126 strikeouts in 399 career at-bats. 

News: Mazzaro (shoulder) has been removed from the 60-day DL.
Impact: He'll be among the candidates vying for a spot in the back of the A's rotation during spring training. The shoulder injury that landed him on the DL in September was simply tendinitis, so there's no need to worry about his health at this time. 

News: Bailey is the American League Rookie of the Year. He was selected first on 13 of 28 ballots and finished with 88 points.
Impact: An All-Star in his first major league season, Bailey proved that general manager Billy Beane can spot talent for the low-budget A's. Bailey, a Staten Island native, went 6-3 with a team-best 1.84 ERA and converted 26 of 30 saves. 

News: Andrew Bailey has been named the American League's Rookie of the Year for 2009, according to Noah Coslov of MLB.com. He posted 26 saves and a 1.84 ERA in 83.1 innings pitched.
Impact: Bailey won amongst a relatively weak crop that nonetheless included other worthy potential recipients in Detroit's Rick Porcello, Chicago's Gordon Beckham and Texas' Elvis Andrus. He is the first reliever to win the award since Huston Street did so for Oakland in 2005. 

News: Chavez had back surgery Tuesday, a season-ending procedure he hopes will salvage his career. The six-time Gold Glover had the operation performed by Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles.
Impact: This will be Chavez's second back surgery and fifth operation overall since Sept. 5, 2007. 

News: Denorfia has been outrighted from the 40-man roster.
Impact: No word yet if he'll remain at Triple-A Sacramento or try to leave the A's organization through free agency. 

News: Kennedy has filed for free agency.
Impact: He had a career-saving season with the A's in 2009 by hitting .289/.348/.410 with 11 homers and 63 RBI in 529 at-bats. Kennedy is interested in returning to Oakland as a free agent, where he'd likely fill a veteran utility role again in 2010. 

News: Garciaparra has filed for free agency.
Impact: He picked up just 160 at-bats this season, bringing a .281/.314/.388 line to the table in a limited role. It would hardly be surprising if Garciaparra opted for retirement rather than return for the 2010 season. 

News: Duchscherer has filed for free agency.
Impact: The A's may bring him back, but there seemed to be some disagreement about his role while he was trying to work his way back from elbow issues last season. 

News: Crosby has filed for free agency.
Impact: He struggled in a part-time role with the A's while logging just 238 at-bats this season. More than likely, Crosby is looking at a minor-league deal to get another chance elsewhere as a free agent this winter. 

News: The Athletics transferred Braden to the 60-day disabled list, all but ending his 2009 season Friday.
Impact: Braden hasn't pitched since July 31 because of an infection and, later, nerve damage in his left foot. Braden, who would be eligible to come off of the DL for the final days of the season, went 8-9 this season with a 3.89 earned run average. 

News: The Oakland Athletics placed Mazzaro on the 60-day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis on Friday.
Impact: In 17 starts this season, the rookie right-hander is 4-9 with a 5.32 ERA. He last appeared in a game Aug. 29 at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and did not factor in a 4-3 Oakland victory. 

News: Duchscherer's agent says the Oakland Athletics right-hander won't pitch this season so he can concentrate on his treatment for depression. Duchscherer has been out all year after undergoing right elbow surgery in March. He made the All-Star team as a reliever in 2005 and a starter last season.
Impact: Damon Lapa, Duchscherer's agent, held a conference call Friday and said the pitcher has been dealing with depression for some time. Duchscherer was in the process of returning to the major leagues. He had made three rehab starts and then missed an assignment. Duchscherer had season-ending injuries the past two years with hip and back problems. He's been on the disabled list four times in the last three years. 

News: Outman has undergone ligament replacement surgery on his pitching elbow, ending his season.
Impact: Dr. James Andrews performed the procedure, often called Tommy John surgery. Outman went 4-1 with a 3.48 ERA this season in 14 appearances, including 12 starts. Outman also had a bone spur removed. The surgery typically requires a year or more of rehabilitation. 

News: Devine has had ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow, a procedure that usually requires at least one year of recovery. The operation was performed Tuesday by Dr. James Andrews on Devine's ulnar collateral ligament. A's manager Bob Geren said Wednesday that it was replacement surgery but that he had not spoken with the pitcher.
Impact: Devine has been on the disabled list since the season started. Going into spring training, he was expected to share the closer's role with Brad Ziegler. Devine went 6-1 with a 0.59 ERA and one save last season. He struck out 49 and walked 15 in 42 games covering 45 2-3 innings. 

News: Sweeney (patella tendinitis) has begun his rehab process after getting shut down for three weeks, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Impact: Sweeney expects to be ready for the start of spring training. The emergence of Rajai Davis has pushed Sweeney over to a corner outfield spot, where his lack of power is a bigger problem. 

News: Outman (elbow) has begun his throwing program and hopes to throw from a mound around the start of spring training, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Impact: However, Outman isn't expected to be ready for game action until around the All-Star break. 

News: Kennedy, who will be a free agent in the offseason, would like to return to the A's, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Impact: Kennedy and his agent have had preliminary talks with the A's and described the conversation as "very positive." 

News: Deseme went 3-for-4 with two homers and four RBI in Wednesday's win over Peoria.
Impact: Hands down, the 23-year-old Desme has been the most surprising hitter in the Arizona Fall League thus far. A second-round pick of the A's in 2007, Desme's pro career had been limited to just 49 at-bats prior to 2009, where he spent the season split between Low-A Kane County and High-A Stockton. Desme swatted 31 homers in 486 combined at-bats and has an eye-popping 10 homers through 12 AFL games. Even though he'll likely have to begin the 2010 season at Double-A, Desme should definitely be on the keeper league radar now that he's finally healthy again.