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Projected Lineup (2003 stats) Pos. Player Avg. HR RBI SB CF Mark Kotsay .266 7 38 6 2B Mark Ellis .248 9 52 6 3B Eric Chavez .282 29 101 8 RF Jermaine Dye .172 4 20 1 DH Erubiel Durazo .259 21 77 1 LF Bobby Kielty .244 13 57 8 1B Scott Hatteberg .253 12 61 0 C Damian Miller .233 9 36 1 SS Bobby Crosby* .308 22 90 24 *Triple A Projected Rotation (2003 stats) H Player W-L ERA WHIP LH Mark Mulder 15-9 3.13 1.18 RH Tim Hudson 16-7 2.70 1.08 LH Barry Zito 14-12 3.30 1.18 LH Mark Redman 14-9 3.59 1.22 RH Rich Harden 5-4 4.46 1.50 FANTASY BASEBALL Sign up Today! • NEW! Baseball Commissioner Full service league management tool. $99.95 per league • NEW! Fantasy Baseball Conquer your league and take home the pennant. $19.95 per team • NEW! Salary Cap Challenge Select your dream team with a $75 million budget. $9.95 per team

For the second time in three years the A's have to replace a recent AL MVP. First it was Jason Giambi, whose spot went to Scott Hatteberg. This time rookie Bobby Crosby takes the place of shortstop Miguel Tejada.

How do you choose among pitchers Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder or Barry Zito? The trio takes turns at being the most dominant and all can win 20 games and the Cy Young Award. Look for 2002 Cy Young winner Zito, who struggled with his command at times last season, to refocus and have a huge year.

With Ramon Hernandez and Michael Barrett gone, Damian Miller, 34, is the A's primary catcher. Miller hasn't been much of an offensive threat playing the last two years in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field and Bank One Ballpark (combined .240 average, 20 home runs, 78 RBIs), and he certainly won't be feared at the tail end of the A's lineup.

First base: As a fulltime starter last season Scott Hatteberg was an average fantasy player at best. Now that he'll likely be in a strict right-left platoon with Eric Karros, his numbers won't deserve more than a fantasy bench spot. Karros (.286 average, 12 home runs with the Cubs in '03) might produce enough to win the job outright.

As a rule the A's don't steal bases, but leadoff hitter Mark Kotsay can swipe 15 to 20 in a full season. A favorite of Oakland G.M. Billy Beane, Kotsay's difficulty staying healthy in San Diego should drive his draft day desirability down, but he's got the everyday centerfield job locked up.

For the third year in a row the A's have a new closer. In his previous 13 seasons, however, Arthur Rhodes has never been a ninth-inning specialist. The A's have few other options for that spot--either Chad Harville (18 saves in Triple A in '03) or hard throwing former Angels castoff Lou Pote (one save for Japan's Hanshin Tigers in '03).

There's a popular sentiment that rookie Bobby Crosby will step in and immediately make folks forget Miguel Tejada. Not so fast. The A's other choices (Marcos Scutaro or Frank Menechino) aren't appealing, but many of Crosby's 22 home runs at Triple A Sacramento last season can be attributed to playing in the hitter-friendly parks of the Pacific Coast League. We're not saying he won't be solid as a rookie, but players such as Orlando Cabrera, Cristian Guzman and Rich Aurilia certainly should be considered first.

Erubiel Durazo, Rich Harden, Mark Redman

Eric Byrnes, Mark Ellis, Billy McMillon