Billy Beane has been told his Moneyball ways only won because of the Big Three: Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and Barry Zito. His critics were right, for the most part, they didn't win after dealing Hudson and Mulder.

Get your 2006 Owners Manual and Draft Guide!

But they could be eating their words this season -- albeit because the A's have quickly developed their Big Four: Zito, Rich Harden, Dan Haren and Joe Blanton.

Harden, a classic third-year starting pitcher breakout candidate, has the potential to be better than any Bigee of the A's in recent years. His triple-digit stuff just has to find a way to last through a full season. Even with the injury-risk label, don't let him get past the fifth round in any Fantasy league.

Topping off the added optimism of burgeoning young sluggers Dan Johnson, Nick Swisher and Bobby Crosby, the A's were even able to spend money this winter. Go figure. The A's added steady innings-eating veteran Esteban Loaiza to their undderated staff and Frank Thomas to be their prototype high-OBP, high-OPS designated hitter (if healthy).

Being that the A's flew under the radar last season in a rebuilding year, you might find their players slipping to you on Draft Day. Crosby is still new money as a middle-round mixed-league shortstop, while Thomas, Swisher, Haren and Blanton are all far better than where they will be drafted.

The Moneyball-model franchise will be an ideal place to value the undervalued in Fantasy.

Spring position battles

Left field -- Nick Swisher vs. Jay Payton, Bobby Kielty

Assuming 27-year-old Milton Bradley doesn't go bananas again, Swisher will have to slide over to left and push Payton to the bench or a DH role with Thomas (ankle). Swisher will also see time at DH and first and the A's say he will still be a right fielder from time to time to spell the often-brittle Bradley, who can also play center vs. tough left-handers. Swisher, Bradley and Mark Kotsay will be the A's primary outfielders with Payton and Kielty as the reserves. Swisher has the most upside of all of them if he can trump his rookie production. He should be able to. Consider him a sleeper in the latter rounds of mixed leagues. Bradley is also mixed-league worthy, while Kotsay and the pair of backups should only be selected in AL-only formats on Draft Day.

You can e-mail your Fantasy Baseball questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Athletics outlook in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses or answers to all questions.