A's negotiating with outfielder Gabe Gross
The A’s are targeting a left-handed hitting outfielder, but
it’s not Johnny Damon.
The team is in serious discussions with free agent Gabe Gross
on a one- year contract, according to major-league sources.
Gross, 30, spent last season and most of 2008 with the Rays.
He is
considered an above-average defender and decent threat
against right-
handed pitching, though his numbers last season were down
across the
board.
The A’s almost certainly will use Gross as a reserve,
seemingly
leaving them with the option of adding Damon.
However, there have been no recent talks between the
A’s and Damon’s
representatives, a source said.
Gross is a career .239 hitter with a .337 on-base percentage
and .399
slugging percentage.