What's In Store For Oakland?

GIFT??? The A's were lucky to unload Esteban. Hes over paid and a head case.

I think this could be the off season where the A's completely re-stock their farm system. I wouldnt be surprised if they Trade Harden, Chavez, Kotsay, Piazza, and even Dan Haren. Its time for fresh start in Oakland.

I'm an A's fan, but I smell collusion!

Well if they make a run at Blanton again then you know that Schmidt's career is officially over. Kind of figured it was already.

I highly doubt Billy Beane needs to ask Jeffry Loria for baseball advice. Here's what I'd like to see in the off-season:

Joe Blanton for Andy LaRoche & Jonathan Broxton

Eric Chavez for Jon Lester & Craig Hansen

Rich Harden for Edgar Renteria

Dan Meyer & Mark Kotsay for Scott Olsen

That would cut their payroll down by $15 million. A starting 9 of Renteria, Buck, Cust, Swisher, Barton, LaRoche, Johnson, Suzuki, Ellis along with a rotation of Haren, Olsen, Broxton, Lester & Gaudin would look nice.

Blanton would be one coup for sure if Colletti can go out and get him. But given Colletti's inability to make trades happen, I doubt it really. Not sure who it would take to make a deal though. I am sure Laroche might be part of it if the A's are looking to move Chavez. BTW, I don't like Chavez at all for the Dodgers. Not significantly better then anyone they have now, including Hillenbrand...Chavez has been declining for two seasons now. The guy is 30 now and well, strange things can happen to a player around that age. I would rather see the Dodgers stick with trying Laroche or getting Glaus...but not Chavez.

Even if Schmidt does recover he cannot be considered more then a #3 at this point in his career. he has heart but he simply does not have many pitches in that arm anymore. He would be a 6-inning 70-75 pitch kinda guy most starts it would seem safe to assume.

I kinda like the Loaiza deal and we'll see how Loaiza does in the hand-full of starts the Dodgers are going to give him. How he does will set the tone for next season's rotation.

Right now even DLowe is a question mark. His hip is far more broken down then he seems to let on. So he too might be, at best, the #4 or #3 SP next season. Loaiza can fill in at #4 or #5. For now the Dodgers seem to have only two know SP's and that is Penny & Billingsley and neither of them is a #1 yet. Penny lacks season long stamina it seems. Billz is young.

Been saying all year long the Dodgers SP is suspect at best. Most of the SP's have histories of multiple surgeries and repeated DL stints.

So the Dodgers must find some SP via trades this off season. Blanton would be nice for sure as would a run at Willis.

Now way the Dodgers make a deal on Kershaw anytime soon. Unless, that is, they know something nobody else does about him....or in the spirit of "...they traded the wrong Martinez..." they just feel the need to give something away. He is young, scary nice when he is right and has only been in the organization for a couple seasons now. But that is one they will likely need just a SWEET deal to trade.

I like that Willis is suspect goods right now...makes him more likely to be traded. Worse that could happen is yet another year like this one...

Broxton is a setupman/future closer so he wouldn't be in the rotation.

I doubt Schmidt pitches again, but you have to figure for next year you have Penny, Lowe, Bills, and Loaiza (if he's actually healthy) in the majors with Schmidt and maybe Kuo as the injury questionmarks. If they go after Blanton that signals that they are not counting on anything from Schmidt. I don't know what the A's want but I doubt they're getting Kershaw back in any scenario. They are incredibly high on him.

I disagree with the Rich Harden for Edgar Renteria trade. For one that would go against everything B Beane is trying do. Hes getting older and isnt that cheap. I think Billy will end up trading Rich but for young cheap prospects.

However that would be a great deal for "my" braves. B Lillibridge will be our shortstop next year not Rents or Yunel.

Yunel will be traded to the Reds for Bronson Arroyo. I dont think Yunels value will ever be higher, its perfect time for a deal.

That would give the Braves quite a staff Smoltz, Hudson, Arroyo, Harden, and Chuck James. probally never happen

I think GM's around the league have taken notice that when you trade with JS your getting the short end of the trade. Even Billy Beane has been "Schuerholzed" in the Tim Hudson trade.

Wouldn't the Mets be interested in Blanton. Beane loved Milledge and I could see a Milledge and Pelfrey trade for Blanton.

The ONLY trade offer I don't find completely ridiculous, and barely, is the Harden for Renteria trade. Scratch that, even that trade doesn't work for me. Did you notice Renteria in the AL? NOT the same player.

The Tim Hudson trade worked out fine. Juan Cruz got us Brad Halsey and without Halsey last year we most likely don't hang on and win the Division. Add the fact Dan Meyer is healthy and having a fine year in AAA, that deal still isn't "callable".

ok well Dontrelle Willis won 22 games last year and that was his 2nd year now look at him this year and Blanton has 31 walks not 17. The mets had a very good chance at resigning Barry Zito because with him the Mets most likely would of at least made it to the World Series last year and now Zito has pretty much ruined his chances at ever getting to the world series and winning it. For the A's to get Milledge and Pelfrey it would have to be Dan Haren who is also in his 3rd year rather than Joe Blanton