Athletics rumors: Brandon McCarthy, Stephen Drew

Shortstop and starting pitching are two areas the Oakland Athletics need to address this winter, and they could do so by looking to former in-house options Stephen Drew and Brandon McCarthy, reports Jane Lee of MLB.com:

Outside of shortstop, it's a safe bet the A's are assessing their starting pitching. Though already a strength, the staff is still quite young, and Oakland is likely to beef it up by way of a few veteran additions.

The A’s addressed their shortstop position this summer by acquiring Drew from the Arizona Diamondbacks. While the 29-year-old played well during his time in Oakland, it’s not clear if the team is willing to exercise their portion of the shortstop’s $10 million mutual option for 2013.

If they decline the option, the A’s could still look to bring Drew back on a less expensive deal.

Oakland’s rotation was a strength this season, but Lee believes general manager Billy Beane will look to bolster his young group of arms with "a few veteran additions." She says the team is likely to look for free agents willing to sign a one-year deal. McCarthy could be an option, though he’s been highly productive in Oakland and could receive a multi-year contract this offseason.