What's Next For Oakland?

I could see Ellis and Blanton going very soon in a package, and possibly Kotsay, as you suggest.

But I too think that he will wait on all of Chavez/Harden/Crosby to see if they can get healthy/build up value over the 1st half. If they can, BB might actually be REALLY loaded in the minors. All 3 have All-Star potential if they can ever get healthy.

On Street, he could wait it out with him, and use him on the team to help with the confidence (ie not blowing games for a young team) and also build up his value some after an injury-plagued 2007.

Will be interesting to be sure. But he's already done an awesome job. Rob Neyer's article this morning was very well put.

Murton and Cedeno would both be very good gets for Beane, as he needs a SS/replacement OF, and both are highly undervalued by the Cubs.

I wonder if the Cubs would take a Blanton/Ellis package for those 2 plus a couple pitchers.

Then they wouldn't need to go after Roberts.

I think it is obvious he should and will deal Street. However, closer to the trade deadline seems like a time when Beane could get a better price.

to me it makes no sense for the A's to sign Bonds and I know he isn't worth it but being the greedy, selfish player he is I don't him signing for less then $14MM.. that is if he gets signed at all

Susan Slusser is the worst beat writer, let alone sports writer, in the entire Bay Area. Sign Bonds?? Can all of "us" remember that Bonds is the same reason the Giants refused to go young. Trade Harden? With his injuries? For what exactly? Street after two unhealthy seasons? Chavez after three surgeries?

Send Eric Chavez over to the Angels.
I seroiusly doubt it would happen because I'm sure Beane hates us, but still... we could use him, and we've got the prospects

"I also think Beane is seemingly overestimating what he can get for Joe Blanton. He's basically a .500 pitcher so far in a young career."

Matt Cain is 22-29. W-L records don't do much. Blanton actually had a good year last year, posting a 1.22 WHIP, but I doubt he'll repeat that performance.

"How about Joe Blanton and Mark Ellis for Sean Gallager, Tyler Colvin, and Eric Patterson. You could throw in one of Marshall, Murton, or Cedeno if you have to."

I see where you're coming from, but second base really isnt a need for Chicago. Between Derosa, Patterson, Cedeno and Fontenot there is not reallly a hole at second. The reason the Cubs want Roberts is because he is a fast, lefty leadoff hitter that plays a position where they don't have a star. Considering that, I think the Cubs would prefer to keep Ellis out of the deal if they could get it done without Colvin. If they could get just Blanton for Gallagher, Patterson and Murton, that'd be a solid move.

"Send Eric Chavez over to the Angels.
I seroiusly doubt it would happen because I'm sure Beane hates us, but still... we could use him, and we've got the prospects"

If Reagins offered him enough, Beane would make a deal. I think Billy has definately gotten to the point where he realizes he's not gonna be winning anything short term. So why wouldn't he want to take away long term assets from his opponents to only help them during a period of time during which he wouldn't be winning anyways. If they could get something like Brandon Wood and a prospect for him or Ervin Santana and Erick Aybar then that'd be a brilliant deal for Beane.

if Beane could get Wood or Santana or Aybar for Chavez that would be awesome, but I would hate to see Chavez suiting up for the Ahols--I mean Halos, being an Oakland fan in South Orange County...

"If Reagins offered him enough, Beane would make a deal. I think Billy has definately gotten to the point where he realizes he's not gonna be winning anything short term. So why wouldn't he want to take away long term assets from his opponents to only help them during a period of time during which he wouldn't be winning anyways. If they could get something like Brandon Wood and a prospect for him or Ervin Santana and Erick Aybar then that'd be a brilliant deal for Beane."

I'd personally do Santana and Aybar for him, because 1)Santana is a piece of junk, and he'd get killed in the A's park, and 2) Aybar is basically expendable with the likes of Wood, Izturis, Figgins and Rodriguez all able to play SS.
I think a likely deal though, would be Aybar and a lower pithcer like Marek.
But again, I'd take that deal in a heartbeat.

Scribbletone beat me to the punch for the 2nd time in the early part of this year...point out to J-Money that winning % doesn't mean a whole hell of a lot. The Cain comparison is a good one, but I was going to bring up the following:

Joe Blanton - 55% winning percentage
Dan Haren - 53% winning percentage

If the angels want oaklands trash then fantastic if the a's could get brandon wood and a prospect for chavez then do it. Blanton is going to bring in a boatload of talent after santana goes to nyanks the mets are goiing to pay out of the back end if you know what i mean. No way minaya sticks with what they have now he'd be crucified.

Bobby Crosby sucks. GM's would be f'in nuts to give anything of value for that guy.

Almost forgot... Hold on Harden, if he's hurt- no team will deal for him. if he's healthy- he is a steal at only $7M and he provides a bad team a #1 starter.

The A's are timing their run for two years down the road when their young prospects should be developing at the same time much the way the A's did it before when Giambi was rounding into an MVP candidate and Chavez, Tejada, Hudson, Mulder, Zito, and Hernandez were all coming up about the same time.

Dealing these guys now adds $$$ for the future to take on vets with a few years left on their deals, or high ceiling players who need a change of scenery like Damon, Dye, and Izzy.

As long as Beane hits on 5 of the 9 guys he got for Haren and Swisher the A's will be loaded in '10. And the fans who don't run b/c there are some hard times ahead will have the privilege of watching these players grow just as we did in '98.

"Oh...and pitcher W-L is absolutely the most pointless and worthless stat in all of professional sports. If you are still using this as a judge of a pitchers talent then you are from 1960 when pitchers always went 8+, they never do that anymore. Plus you need to have your hitters score runs for you, your relievers keep the lead, etc etc how is that a personal stat? Worst. Stat. Ever...."

If you knew anything about Ervin Santana, you'd be agreeing with me right now. The guy is a complete headcase... he's got no confidence, and he can't win on the road. He is literally almost incapable of pitching a good game and winning when he's on the road. he's the next ramon ortiz.

"No way minaya sticks with what they have now he'd be crucified."

He would be crucified more if he traded for an overweight innings eater who has had marginal success throwing in a pitchers park.

"I also think Beane is seemingly overestimating what he can get for Joe Blanton. He's basically a .500 pitcher so far in a young career."

"Single season won-lost records have almost no value as an indicator of a pitcher's contribution to a team." - Bill James