2011 Contract Issues: Oakland Athletics

Let's start with a look at the Athletics' 2011 options:

• Eric Chavez has a $12.5MM club option with a $3MM buyout.  This appears highly unlikely to be exercised.
• Mark Ellis has a $6MM club option with a $500K buyout.  Ellis missed a large chunk of last year with a calf strain and hasn't played a full season since '07.  Should he stay relatively healthy and maintain his top-notch defense, WAR might suggest Ellis will be worth the $5.5MM net price in 2011.  Still, the A's would have to weigh their many second base alternatives as well as Ellis' market value.
• Coco Crisp has a $5.75MM club option with a $500K buyout.  The club option is the silver lining on a pretty risky signing. 

After 2010, the A's will be free of their $4MM obligation to Willy Taveras.  Veteran starters Ben Sheets and Justin Duchscherer will be eligible for free agency.

The Athletics' first-year arbitration players will include Kurt Suzuki, Ryan Sweeney, Dallas Braden, Craig Breslow, and Travis Buck.  A long-term deal for Suzuki may be in order.  The A's will also have Kevin Kouzmanoff, Rajai Davis, and Joey Devine due raises as second-year arbitration players.  Gabe Gross and Chad Gaudin are two more arbitration-eligible players, though they stand a chance of being non-tendered.

Thanks to Cot's Baseball Contracts for the information.