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A's, Four Others Interested In Fuentes
At third place and seven games out, the Rockies are not a lock to become sellers. If they do throw in the towel, closer Brian Fuentes figures to become a hot commodity.
Back on June 15th, multiple sources reported the Mets' interest in Fuentes. The Yankees have liked him for years. The Red Sox and Phillies have been known Fuentes fans for a while now also. Yesterday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post added one more suitor: the A's. Ken Rosenthal recently suggested the A's could be buyers, perhaps chasing big fish like Matt Holliday, Jason Bay, or C.C. Sabathia. The A's are just three games out of the wild card behind the Rays.
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I can't imagine Oakland going for Fuentes, we are seemingly overstocked with good relievers.
Unless Uncle Billy is acquiring Fuentes for the draft picks?
Posted by: OaklandAussie | June 23, 2008 at 10:04 AM
1. Embree is their only LHP option and he kinda stinks this year.
2. Good call about the draft picks.
3. Perhaps Huston Street will be moved in a Haren/Swisher-type deal for prospects?
Posted by: Athletic Domination | June 23, 2008 at 10:36 AM
If the Rockies look to sell...and the Indians have shown interest in Atkins. Could we see a big deal, Sabathia and others for Atkins and Fuentes? The Indians need bullpen help, and a 3rd baseman...the Rockies would like a SP, but it would probably only be a rental...it could be interesting
Posted by: Adam | June 23, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Nice to see Oakland fans coming out of their holes. Don't see this happening. We've got arguably the best bullpen in the majors. And while Embree is our only lefty and he hasn't done great, I still don't think we need another lefty.
The thing about the draft picks; next years draft is supposed horrible. And Beane is the kind of guy who has advanced scouting on that kind of stuff.
And Beane said when he was selling parts away that Street would be the least likely to be moved because he's still only 24. I'd see Blanton or Harden being moved over Street.
Posted by: AriGoldisaG | June 23, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Assuming Heilman continues to pitch like he has, I doubt Manaya will take a stab at him.
Posted by: napes22 | June 23, 2008 at 10:56 AM
I can see Street getting dealt, Blanton and Harden as well.
The problem is that, as stated, the A's have a problem of having too many arms rather than too few. The A's even have a suitable 3rd starter in the Bullpen because the rotation is full, and the Bullpen had to cast off Kiko Calero, who while not great due to injury last year, was not horrible. And Joey Devine is still on the DL, so when he gets back, another move will need to be made.
But I could see Halliday and Bay. The question is; are the A's prepared to give up prospects in a rebuilding year?
Posted by: Zonis | June 23, 2008 at 11:02 AM
It seems obvious that the Cardinals would be interested. Flores and Villone have been horrendous and they're still in the playoff hunt.
Posted by: Devlsh | June 23, 2008 at 11:20 AM
As a Cubs fan I would love to see the Cardinals and Brewers trade away their top prospects for the likes of Fuentes and Sabathia.
Posted by: integr96 | June 23, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Fuentes makes tons of sense because that opens the door for Street to leave, netting 2-4 B+ grade prospects for him (depending on how dumb/desperate other GMs are for a closer), Oakland could still gear up for a playoff run, let Fuentes go in the offseason as a Type-A, then start Henry Rodriguez or James Simmons as 09's closer.
Id trade Street and Buck for Fuentes and Bay in a heartbeat.
Posted by: Athletic Domination | June 23, 2008 at 01:23 PM
Why would the A's go after Brian Fuentes? The A's have one of the best bullpens in the majors. We don't even need him in our bullpen. Our bullpen is good enough [maybe even too good.] It would seem ridiculous to give up a big package for Fuentes himself. The only way I see Fuentes being acquired is if Oakland and Colorado get into a huge deal with Colorado giving up Matt Holiday and Brian Fuentes for Joe Blanton + 2-3 Prospects. Though if this trade were to happen, how could Oakland afford Brian Fuentes and Matt Holiday? Oakland is a low budget team. They don't have enough money to sign Fuentes and Holiday. And if they don't sign them, then what is the whole point of acquiring them in the first place? Maybe for higher draft picks, but then we would lose the prospects we sent to Colorado. I remember reading Moneyball and I thought "Well Billy Beane not going to offer big money for a top player when he can get some top prospect from the minor leagues and save money." Then I look at this rumor and figure "Is this the same Billy Beane who wouldn't offer big time players huge contracts and go with his younger, more affordable prospects down at the minor leagues? Personally, I don't think that the A's will give up their top prospects for a year of Brian Fuentes or a couple years of Matt Holiday or Jason Bay. Here is a quote from the Giant's beat reporter Chris Haft on Matt Holiday being traded:
"...as much as I respect Holliday's ability, I question whether he's truly a "franchise player." His home-road splits trouble me. Entering this season, Holliday owned a .364 career batting average at hitter-friendly Coors Field and .273 away from it. This year (.358 home, .283 road) hasn't been much different."
To make my point, the A's shouldn't give up their top prospects for a rental of Matt Holiday or Jason Bay. Even though the A's are in the playoff race for October, it's not worth it to get a big hitter for one year for a package of young, talented prospects unless the A's are very positive that they could win a world series. To me, this does not sound like Billy Beane and I think that someone is just making this up.
Posted by: It's Giant's Time! | June 23, 2008 at 02:48 PM
"The A's have one of the best bullpens in the majors. We don't even need him in our bullpen. Our bullpen is good enough [maybe even too good.]"
The A's 'pen isn't even the best in their own division, and they are definately short on lefties. Further, with the way the game is played now, there is no such thing as "too good" a bullpen. The Dodgers probably have the best 'pen in baseball and have needed every bit of it.
Actually, that brings up an interesting point. The Angels too are short on lefties, with only Darren Oliver throwing from the left side in the 'pen and actually being more effective against right-handed batters anyway. Bringing in Fuentes for a middling prospect and Chris Bootcheck, or something of the sort, makes a lot of sense. The Angels can let him go at the end of the year and pick up the draft picks themselves.
Posted by: AA | June 23, 2008 at 04:00 PM
You do not need a Lefty in your pen to have a good one. Hell, the Angels are proof of that, as they went years w/o a lefty in the pen while having one of the best in baseball. What you need are good pitchers.
The A's Pen consists of the following right now:
Huston Street: 4.32 ERA, 1.11 WHIP
Andrew Brown: 1.78 ERA, 1.03 WHIP
Santiago Casilla: 1.86 ERA, 0.98 WHIP
Alan Embreee: 3.82 ERA, 1.24 WHIP
Keith Foulke: 3.28 ERA, 1.26 WHIP
Chad Gaudin: 3.72 ERA, 1.24 WHIP
Brad Ziegler: 0.00 ERA, 0.97 WHIP
Joey Devine (DL): 1.23 ERA, 1.05 WHIP
Posted by: Zonis | June 23, 2008 at 04:35 PM
"You do not need a Lefty in your pen to have a good one. Hell, the Angels are proof of that, as they went years w/o a lefty in the pen while having one of the best in baseball."
Actually, they never went a full year without a lefty in the 'pen. Only in 2004 were they really short a lefty, though they had one in the rotation.
"The A's Pen consists of the following right now"
And those numbers look like a combination of not sustainable (Ziegler) and too high (Street/Embree/Foulke).
Posted by: AA | June 23, 2008 at 04:49 PM
Matt Holliday is a total disaster outside of Denver, I wouldnt touch him with a 10 foot pole. He's seriously a FA bust waiting to happen.
Minus 07, Jason Bay is awesome all the time. He'd form a crazy middle of the order with Cust, Thomas and Chavez.
Also:
"Oakland is a low budget team"
unless the year is 2001 you are wrong. Dont confuse "low budget" for being smart and profitable. The A's turn a profit every year.
No one is talking about trading the prospects either, Blanton&Street would be at the top of any trade list.
You cant tell me you wouldnt trade Blanton for Bay right now. I would.
Posted by: Athletic Domination | June 23, 2008 at 05:05 PM
"The A's turn a profit every year."
So do the Clippers, doesn't mean they ever win anything. The Dodgers and Angels both turn a profit and have much higher payrolls.
"You cant tell me you wouldnt trade Blanton for Bay right now. I would."
If my name is Billy Beane, sure. If you work in Pittsburgh, forget it.
Posted by: AA | June 23, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Comparing the A's to the Clippers?? HAHA! Sounds like this is comin' from an Angels diehard...
Posted by: NorCalBB | June 23, 2008 at 05:57 PM
AA - whats with all the socal team references? The Clippers? Is that supposed to be an insult?
Terrible post(er).
Posted by: Athletic Domination | June 23, 2008 at 06:12 PM
I'd hate to inform you A's fans, if the Pirates trade Bay, it means they've thrown the proverbial towel in on this season. No way do they trade for a Blanton or any other established major leaguer. They'll want prospects.
Posted by: indybucfan | June 23, 2008 at 09:22 PM