Peña ranked No. 2 -- A's first-base candidate Carlos Peña, acquired from the Texas Rangers in January, is ranked the second-best rookie by Baseball America in its March 17 issue. Only Florida Marlins pitcher Josh Beckett is ranked higher.

Peña, 23, is being groomed as Jason Giambi's successor, but the A's are keeping the pressure off by listing Olmedo Sáenz and Scott Hatteberg as candidates, too. Peña batted .288 with 23 homers and 74 RBIs at Triple-A Oklahoma City last year.

"He has a good stroke," manager Art Howe said of Peña, who could start the season with Sacramento if he has a rough spring. "After watching him for the first time, he has a pretty good idea at the plate, hitting the ball to all fields."