30 A's in 30 Days – Adam Rosales

Acquired: Traded from Cincinnati Reds (with OF Willy Taveras) for UT Aaron Miles and a player to be named later (February 1, 2010).
Contract: One year thru 2010. (Not yet eligible for arbitration.)
Position: Utility infielder

Projected BA/OBP/SLG: (.245/.310/.395)

Over/Under: Rosales is another 11th hour addition to this feature. Originally earmarked for either a bench role in Oakland or a starting infield job (shortstop, most likely) at AAA-Sacramento, he's used a solid little spring to create competition for the A's incumbent shortstop, Cliff Pennington. In five minor league seasons – totaling nearly 1,900 plate appearances – Rosales has posted a .289/.364/.491 slash line. His .605 career OPS over 296 big league PAs is more than 100 points lower than Pennington's (.719, 346 PAs), though.

The over/under for Rosales is entirely dependent on the role he fills. His only chance to hit the "over" is as a starter. In the American League, where double-switches and inevitable pinch-hitters are all but nonexistent, Rosales won't get enough playing time to find the rhythm and routine needed to reach his projection. I'll take the UNDER. (But, thanks for signing my son's ball last weekend, Adam!)

By the Numbers: 7 – Rosales' assigned jersey number this spring. The last Athletic to wear it was reviled erstwhile SS Bobby Crosby. It is my fervent hope that Oakland's boy-genius GM obtained the services of this guy and this guy to purge the negative ju-ju from his number.

Surefire 2010 Prediction: Rosales will be compared to Lilliputian Venezuelan – and former A's utility infielder – Marco Scutaro about a billion times between now and the end of the season.

Tupac Track for the Season: Fair Xchange