A look at A's upcoming season

2015: 68-94, fifth place.

Manager: Bob Melvin (sixth season).

He's Here: OF Khris Davis, INF Jed Lowrie, LHP Rich Hill, RHP Ryan Madson, LHP Marc Rzepczynski, RHP John Axford, RHP Liam Hendriks, 1B Yonder Alonso, RHP Henderson Alvarez.

He's Outta Here: 3B Brett Lawrie, RHP Jesse Chavez, LHP Fernando Abad, LHP Drew Pomeranz, LHP/RHP Pat Venditte, RHP Evan Scribner, 1B Ike Davis, 1B Nate Freiman, OF Craig Gentry, LHP Barry Zito.

Projected Lineup

CF Billy Burns (.294, 5, 42, 26 SBs) 2B Jed Lowrie (.222, 9, 30 with Astros) RF Josh Reddick (.272, 20, 77) LF Khris Davis (.247, 27, 66 with Brewers) C Stephen Vogt (.261, 18, 71) 3B Danny Valencia (.290, 18, 66 with A's and Blue Jays) DH Billy Butler (.251, 15, 65, 28 2Bs) or Coco Crisp (.175, 0, 6 in 44 games) 1B Yonder Alonso (.282, 5, 31 with Padres) or Mark Canha (.254, 16, 70) SS Marcus Semien (.257, 15, 45, 35 errors)

Rotation

RH Sonny Gray (14-7, 2.73, .217 BA against) RH Kendall Graveman (6-9, 4.05) LH Rich Hill (2-1, 0.66 in 4 starts with Red Sox) RH Chris Bassitt (1-8, 3.56) LH Felix Doubront (3-3, 5.50 for A's and Blue Jays)

Key Relievers

LH Sean Doolittle (1-0, 3.95, 4/5 saves in 12 games) RH Ryan Madson (1-2, 2.13 with Royals) RH John Axford (4-5, 4.20, 25/31 saves with Rockies) LH Marc Rzepczynski (2-4, 5.66 w/ Indians and Padres) RH Fernando Rodriguez (4-2, 3.84)

Hot Spot

Shortstop: Semien's 35 errors last season were the most by a big league shortstop since Jose Valentin had 36 in 2000 for the White Sox. Those miscues helped lead to Oakland's AL-worst 65 unearned runs allowed.

Semien made more than half his errors (18) in the first two months before the addition of infield guru Ron Washington to the coaching staff helped him improve a bit during the second half. With a full spring to work with Washington, the A's hope Semien can add a dependable glove to a bat that provided good power.

Outlook

After three consecutive playoff berths, the A's fell all the way to last place in 2015 when Billy Beane's bold moves to trade Yoenis Cespedes midway through 2014 and future MVP Josh Donaldson last offseason backfired. Oakland spent this offseason overhauling an ineffective bullpen and adding a few pieces to a lineup that needed help.

Last year's 4.56 ERA for the relievers was the worst in the AL, and the team's 25 blown saves were second-worst. That led to a 19-35 record in one-run games, the most one-run losses in the majors. A healthy Doolittle and the additions of Axford, Madson, Rzepczynski and Hendriks should fortify the bullpen.

Getting the ball there remains a question because Gray is the only proven starter. Hill went from independent ball to the majors and used a 1.55 ERA in four September starts to get a deal with Oakland and a spot in the rotation. Graveman is coming off an injury, and Bassitt had one win in 13 starts.

The return of Lowrie should help shore up the defense after the A's led the majors with 126 errors. Davis adds a needed power bat in the outfield. The A's have been surprise contenders before after making under-the-radar offseason additions, but it might be tough to pull that off this season.