As you all know, the battle at first base will be one of the more interesting storylines for the A’s come spring training. Clearly, they need more pop at the plate from whoever’s playing first. The A’s have a logjam of youngsters at the position, but things would be less crowded if stud hitting prospect Chris Carter could play the outfield adequately. Check out this interview at Minor League Ball, where GM Billy Beane addresses that very topic. He says the ideal scenario would have Carter playing the outfield once he’s brought up to the majors. A couple different A’s officials have told me for some time now that Carter has the tools to be a decent left fielder.   And honestly, would he have to be that great? The A’s have shown they’re willing to use a defensive question mark in the outfield if it means getting a needed bat in the lineup.

Carter, by the way, was added to the A’s 40-man roster Friday, along with pitchers Fautino De Los Santos, Pedro Figueroa and Justin Souza.

But here’s a couple issues to consider: How soon will Carter be ready for the majors? Will one of the other first base candidates – Daric Barton, Sean Doolittle, Tommy Everidge, etc. – hit well enough to allow Carter to play somewhere else? Doolittle missed most of the 2009 season recovering from a tear in his left patella tendon, which he tried to rehab without surgery. He encountered road blocks in his recovery, and scout.com reported that Doolittle recently underwent knee surgery to fix the tear. It’s unknown whether he’ll be ready for the start of spring training.

Let’s remember that Scott Hairston’s status also will affect Carter, if Carter is indeed considered for left field. I honestly don’t have a read on how the A’s feel about Hairston at this point. They gave up three pitchers to get him from San Diego in July, and used him as the regular left fielder when he was healthy. Now Hairston is arbitration-eligible. I see the A’s tendering him a contract, but he got a rather lukewarm endorsement from Beane at the end of the season.

How do you see Carter fitting into the A’s puzzle???

It was just announced that A’s closer Andrew Bailey was named AL Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Bailey beat out Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus and becomes the seventh Oakland player to win the award. Check the Contra Costa Times’ Web site in a bit for a story …

Can we expect the A’s to make as big an offseason splash as they did last winter? That might be hard to top. But with the World Series wrapped up, the Hot Stove speculation can officially begin. The MLB Network’s Jon Heyman discussed this winter’s crop of free agents, and he mentioned the A’s as potential suitors for third baseman Chone Figgins and outfielder/DH Vladimir Guerrero.

Juicy names, indeed. But I don’t see the A’s making a push for Figgins. Clearly, they need to sign someone at third. The odds are stacked against Eric Chavez remaining healthy, and it’s asking a lot of prospect Brett Wallace to be ready Opening Day. That’s why making the call on whether to re-sign Adam Kennedy is the A’s first crucial decision of the winter.

Figgins would cost a bundle, with some speculating he could command $10 million per season on a multi-year deal. Look at the A’s offensive strength right now – it’s tied to their speed and athleticism with guys like Rajai Davis and Cliff Pennington. They don’t need another burner such as Figgins. They need someone who can drive in those speedy guys once they get on base.

Guerrero is intriguing, if only because his injury struggles in 2009 should drive his price down. But he’s a huge gamble even at a bargain cost. I’m more intrigued by the A’s pursuing someone like Jermaine Dye. His 2010 option was declined by the White Sox on Friday, making him a free agent. He’ll turn 36 in January (making him a year older than Vlad), but he’s coming off a far more healthy and productive season. Dye plays right field, where the A’s have a terrific defender and still-developing hitter in Ryan Sweeney. But remember, Billy Beane acknowledged that the A’s need more offense from the corner outfield spots, and that they could look to upgrade in left or right.

Team owner Lew Wolff wants the A’s to abandon the philosophy of signing aging sluggers. But let’s face it – the A’s aren’t going to outspend the big-budget teams to sign any superstars. And trading for an impact hitter in his prime will cost the A’s some of their elite pitching prospects. I don’t see them easily parting with those players (then again, I didn’t see them trading for Matt Holliday last winter, either).

Just a few thoughts for you to ponder as the Hot Stove season starts heating up. Let’s here what some of you think …

I saw that the MLB Network will broadcast Saturday’s Rising Stars Showcase live from Surprise, Ariz. It’s basically the All-Star Game for the Arizona Fall League, and first pitch is 5:15 p.m. (West Coast). Outfielder Grant Desme and second baseman Jemile Weeks will represent the A’s, and heralded prospect Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to start on the mound for the East Division squad.

Desme, as you may know, has been the AFL’s offensive star, hitting 10 homers in just 16 games and leading the league in RBI. He’s four homers shy of the AFL’s season home run mark with three games remaining. Tune in Saturday to see him for yourself …

–About a year ago, I drew your attention to a Web site run by baseball fanatic Paul Sullivan, where he ranked all-time teams for all 30 major league franchises. He’s at it again … now giving his thoughts on the most forgettable baseball uniforms of the past 30 years. You can check it out here …

Heard an interesting tidbit that I thought I’d pass along, as we watch the Phillies and Yankees march toward the World Series …

You might have seen today’s stories that the San Diego Padres are close to naming Red Sox assistant GM Jed Hoyer as their next general manager. David Forst, the A’s assistant GM, was mentioned as a potential candidate for the Padres’ job two weeks ago, and the A’s quickly released a statement shooting down that possibility. But it appears another member of Oakland’s front office is (or at least was) under some degree of consideration.

It’s my understanding that Billy Owens, the A’s director of player personnel, was on San Diego’s radar. Realize that this hasn’t been confirmed by anybody from the A’s or Padres. But I talked to both Owens and A’s GM Billy Beane today, and neither one came out and denied it either.

“It’s one of those things, (the Padres) are handling everything privately down there, so I’ll just stay out of it,” Owens said, declining to say whether he had been interviewed.

Beane also was mum on the issue, but said Owens has the potential to continue advancing up the front-office ranks. A Padres spokesperson said the team wasn’t discussing GM candidates publicly.

It’s probably a moot point anyway, as Hoyer appears to be the Padres’ guy. MLB.com, ESPN.com, the San Diego Union-Tribune and North County Times all ran stories on the topic Wednesday. But it’s something to keep an eye on for future front office openings around the majors. Forst is considered one of the top young executives in the game, and his name gets mentioned whenever there’s a GM position available (Forst enjoys living in the Bay Area and has always expressed his happiness with the A’s).

Perhaps Owens, 38, is beginning to attract interest as well. He just completed his 11th season with the A’s and sixth as director of player personnel. He scouts everywhere – majors, minors, amateur and internationally – and his input has been key as the A’s have decided which prospects to target in their many trades of recent years.

I expect to hear Hoyer announced as the Padres’ GM in the near future, but keep Owens’ name filed away …

Another beautiful day at the Coliseum as the A’s look for their second straight series sweep. Not a ton of news today. Pitcher Brett Tomko has seen a neurologist but the results won’t be known for another day or two, manager Bob Geren said. The chances of Tomko pitching again this season are slim, unless he starts to feel really good this week.

Geren said there’s a good chance John Meloan, who was called up Saturday, will pitch today whenever Dana Eveland leaves the game.

The lineups:

A’s — Kennedy 3B, Davis CF, Sweeney RF, Suzuki C, Cust DH, Ellis 2B, Barton 1B, Hairston LF, Pennington SS, Eveland P.

Indians — Brantley CF, Carroll 2B, Cabrera SS, Choo RF, Peralta 3B, Hafner DH, LaPorta 1B, Crowe LF, Toregas C, Carmona P.

Grant Green, the A’s first round pick in July, is at the Coliseum tonight as he took some batting practice and fielded some grounders at shortstop as his parents and agent, Scott Boras, looked on. He’ll return to Stockton tomorrow for the Ports’ final two games, head home for a week or so, then go to Arizona for the instructional league.

The A’s gave Green a $2.75 million signing bonus on Aug. 17 in a deal that was completed less than 10 minutes before the deadline to sign draft picks. Green said it was extremely stressful and that he didn’t get much sleep in the three or four nights before the deadline, but he was still confident that things would work out.

In three games with the Ports, Green, who is just the designated hitter, is 4-for-11 with three RBI.

“First game, the ball looked like a pea when I was up there,” Green said. “I can definitely tell it’s a different game. The first pitch I see in three months is a slider.”

Outfielder Ryan Sweeney is out of the lineup with a sore left knee. A’s manager Bob Geren said it’s something that’s been building for a while, and that Sweeney should be OK to go on Sunday before the A’s take Labor Day off to travel to Chicago.

The lineups:

A’s — Kennedy 3B, Davis CF, Suzuki C, Hairston LF, Garciaparra DH, Ellis 2B, Cust RF, Barton 1B, Pennington SS, Anderson P.

Mariners — Suzuki RF, Gutierrez CF, Lopez 1B, Sweeney DH, Beltre 3B, Hall LF, Jack Wilson SS, Josh Wilson 2B, Johnson C, French P.

Another nice night for baseball here at the Coliseum and it looks like there will be another decent crowd. Nomar Garciaparra gets the start at first base and Tommy Everidge is the DH for the second game of the series. Bobby Crosby incurred tightness in his left calf during Monday’s game and although A’s manager Bob Geren said Crosby is day-to-day, he could come off the bench if absolutely necessary.

Geren had no new news on Justin Duchscherer, but said he’s still open to doing a six-man rotation once he gets some healthy pitchers back. He really wants to limit the innings for Trevor Cahill and Brett Anderson.  

The lineups 

A’s — Kennedy 3B, Davis CF, Suzuki C, Hairston LF, Garciaparra 1B, Ellis 2B, Everidge DH, Sweeney RF, Pennington SS, Mazzaro P.

Yankees — Jeter SS, Damon LF, Teixeira 1B, Rodriguez 3B, Matsui DH, Posada C, Cano 2B, Swisher RF, Cabrera CF, Sabathia P.

Just a quick postgame update … Justin Duchscherer won’t be coming off the DL to pitch Tuesday, A’s manager Bob Geren informed the media after today’s 3-2 walkoff victory over the White Sox. Recently signed veteran Brett Tomko will be called up from Triple-A Sacramento and will pitch tomorrow night’s series opener against the Yankees. Vin Mazzaro gets pushed back to Tuesday to give him an extra day of rest.

Why isn’t Duchscherer being activated? “It’s not baseball-related. I can’t comment further than that,” assistant GM David Forst said.

The “non-baseball” reason also was given when Duchscherer was scratched from a start with Sacramento on July 31. He came back to make two rehab appearances after that. That’s all we know for now …

The A’s 28-games-in-28-days stretch ends today with a matinee at muggy Camden Yards. They are is 13-14, which, all things considered, isn’t that bad for a team that went into the All-Star break 12 games under .500. 

Some news on the Justin Duchscherer front, just not the “go out and buy your tickets now because he’s pitching against the White Sox this weekend” type of news. He’s throwing in Arizona tomorrow, 60 pitches. A’s manager Bob Geren said this is more of a crucial step for the two-time all-star, who is only throwing 60 because it would be three days rest since his start on Sunday for Sacramento. The team will have a better idea of what to do with Duchscherer on Friday.

Dallas Braden continues to progress slowly. But as to when he’ll throw a side session is anyone’s guess. Braden’s long toss just “went OK” on Tuesday, Geren said.  

Landon Powell starts at catcher, giving Kurt Suzuki two days off before Friday’s opener against the White Sox.

Daric Barton will also play in a game in Arizona on Thursday.

The lineups:

A’s — Kennedy 3B, Davis CF, Hairston DH, Cust RF, Everidge 1B, Sweeney LF, Ellis 2B, Powell C, Pennington SS, Mazzaro P.

Orioles — Roberts 2B, Pie LF, Markakis RF, Huff 1B, Jones C, Scott DH, Wieters C, Wigginton 3B, Izturis SS, Berken P.