--SS Bobby Crosby was placed on waivers, major league sources told several media outlets. He cleared after 48 hours, meaning that no clubs were interested in grabbing the 2004 Rookie of the Year in exchange for a waiver price and taking on his $5.25 salary. It's unclear what the A's next move will be, but they took a good run at signing SS Rafael Furcal and then dangled Crosby for nothing, so it doesn't seem as if he's strongly in the team's plans for 2009.
--DH Jason Giambi is a free agent target for Oakland, as expected. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the A's were poised to open negotiations with the former Oakland star, who has spent the past seven years with the Yankees. The Angels are expected to have some interest in Giambi, too, along with the Rays, who brought Giambi in to Tampa Bay earlier in December. --RHP Justin Duchscherer began a throwing program on Dec. 18, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The two-time All-Star, who is currently the only projected Oakland starter over the age of 25, had minor hip surgery in September and he is expected to be completely ready for spring training. Duchscherer had major surgery on the same hip, his right, in July 2007.
--1B Daric Barton, the A's biggest offensive question mark after a rough rookie season, will have a new hitting coach to work with. The A's hired Jim Skaalen for the position on Dec. 23. Skaalen had spent the previous two years with Milwaukee, and in 2007, the Brewers hit a franchise-record 231 homers. Ty Van Burkleo, the A's hitting coach in 2007-08, joined Don Wakamatsu's staff in Seattle.
--LHP Gio Gonzalez and other A's players who spent time in Class AAA Sacramento in 2008 will see a familiar face on the Oakland staff this season. The A's promoted River Cats manager Todd Steverson, giving him the first base coaching job. Steverson, 37, led Sacramento to the Class AAA title last season.
--INF Gregorio Petit, who was called up briefly last season, was batting .323 in the Venezuelan winter league with a .394 on-base percentage. With Bobby Crosby on shaky ground with the A's after going unclaimed on waivers, Petit, 24, might get more of an opportunity this spring -- if Oakland does not bring in another shortstop from outside the organization. Petit has fared well in limited big-league time, going 8-for-23 (.348).
BY THE NUMBERS: .239 -- Bobby Crosby's lifetime batting average. The A's shortstop hasn't hit over .237 since his second season in the big leagues. His career on-base percentage is .306.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I know there are a lot more skeptics than anything else, and that's extra motivation for me." -- SS Bobby Crosby, after the A's placed him on waivers and he went unclaimed in mid-December.
