30 A's in 30 Days – Chris Carter

Acquired: Traded from Arizona (with SP Brett Anderson, SP Dana Eveland, SP Greg Smith, OF Aaron Cunningham and OF Carlos Gonzalez) for SP Dan Haren (December 14, 2007).
Contract: One year thru 2010. No Major League experience.
Position: First baseman of the future.

Projected BA/OBP/SLG: (.239/.318/.402)

Over/Under: Carter is pretty much the consensus top prospect in the A's organization. And, because he's big, black and a first baseman; lazy sportswriters have been comparing him to a "right-handed Ryan Howard". Thankfully, Carter hasn't inherited Howard's KRS-One nose, son. Carter had a monster 2009 at AA-Midland (.337/.435/.576) in almost 600 plate appearances and then slugged .519 in a late-season, small-sample call-up to AAA-Sacramento.

He could stand another half-season in Triple-A – his defense is more akin to "designated hitter" and the A's need to see if incumbent 1B Daric Barton can put together more than one good month in a Major League season. I like the OVER for Carter. And, if Barton again struggles early or DH Jack Cust continues to decay, Carter could be up before the All-Star break.

By the Numbers: .345/.451/.704 – In 1999, A's prospect Adam Piatt won the triple crown in the Texas League (.345 39 HR 135 RBI) and posted the above BA/OBP/SLG slash line. He was named a Top 100 prospect by Baseball America entering the 2000 season…and was out of baseball by 2004 with a career Major League line of .248/.323/.422. Just sayin'.

Surefire 2010 Prediction: Carter will be in Oakland no later than the All-Star Break. Nonsensical "service time" issues aside, the A's – as currently constructed – don't have anyone with the power that Carter potentially provides. Barton or Cust will be moved to make room.

Tupac Track for the Season: Young N****z