More From Rosenthal: Bay, A's, Mets, Rays

Planning for 2009, I assume as the A's motive for thinking of acquiring Jason Bay. But, Bay is signed through 2009, if I'm right. The A's will be riding the backs of guys who aren't even in the bigs yet for
'09, and although Bay would be a veteran presence and a proven run producer in the clubhouse, who knows how these young guys will hold up. There are too many unprovens in the A's '09 roster to tell. One bat isn't going to get them to the WC, especially with the Yanks. I still don't think such a deal will get done, even though the A's and Pirates would match up (A's=lots of pitching prospects, Pirates=need pitching).

I'd be interested to hear the names being thrown about as to the prospects the Pirates would get in return for Bay from the A's. Bay for me would require a package similar to the Teixeira or Haren deals. If Huntington knows what he is doing Gio Gonzalez has to be the centerpiece along with Henry Rodriguez. Not really sure who else would be included though as the A's farm is very deep. I just don't see Beane giving up that kind of package though. He is more used to the receiving end of those type deals.

No way Bay is worth even close to what haren or tex got traded for. He was terrible last year and this year hasn't been bad. Maybe a simmons, murton, and italiano. That is probaly to much. but no way rodriguez or gio goes in that deal.

Does anybody really know what Jason Bay's contract looks like?

Billy Beane will not be giving up the farm to get Bay. Probably 2 top prospect and maybe 1 or 2 other prospects. Travis Buck is almost certain to be including in this deal.

What do you think of a possible Alan Embree for Andy LaRoche deal?

If the A's do pull off a trade for Bay, it will not be for this year's playoff push.

It will be the A's setting up perfectly for 2009. The A's have been looking for a right hand power bat for years.

The A's have no chance this year. August is absolutely horrible. 30 games in 30 days. That's 1 day off. Out of the 30 games, only 4 of them are against teams with a below .500 record. That is tough.

I don't see Beane moving Gio but I can see him either moving either Brett Anderson or Henry Rodriquez. One of them plus Travis Buck and 1 or 2 other prospects should get the trade done.

mazzaro/simmons are top prospects...20/21 in AA

they are overshadowed by cahill/anderson on the same staff

if pirates are looking for power arms hrod throws 100mph but control issues

demel/carignan fast track relievers from 07 draft

bailey looked like a solid sp prospect, but blasted in AA, moved to BP he's been dominant..i think he'd be a solid 3rd prospect in a deal

travis buck- this guy was one of the top AL rookies in 07. battled injuries so far but for whatever reason A's have kept him in AAA over the lousy emil brown/matt murton

The reason Travis Buck is still in Sacramento is simple. Buck struggled earlier this season. Buck started, I believe, 0-for-23 in the lead off position. Suffered through shin splints. Went on the DL.

Ryan Sweeney and Carlos Gonzalez have played extemely well for the A's. There lays the reason why Buck is stuck in AAA. Sweeney and Gonzalez are both left handers. Emil Brown and Matt Murton are right handed. You can't have entire outfield of left handers.

Travis Buck just needs a change of scenery.

Thanks cactusbix for the Bay contract info.

Please remember that Emil Brown has been the A's RBI leader all season.

You have to have somebody in the lineup that has HR and RBI potential.

Guys I apologize. Apparently we just traded Bay to the Mets and we didn't get Fmart or Niese. I guess Beane knew what he was doing going after Bay just surprised he wouldn't beat their offer.

And once again; posting on this site SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!

Bay was taken out of the lineup in the 5th inning.

Along with Bay being removed in the 5th inning, Freddy Sanchez and Nate McLouth were also moved.

What's going on there?

Mclouth and Sanchez aren't going anywhere. Pirates won't sell Sanchez for how bad he is playing right now.

Q: Chad from Connecticut asks:
Can you rank these 3 A's pitching prospects as far as ETA in MLB and performance when they arrive (Brett Anderson, Trevor Cahill, and Henry Rodriguez)?
A:

Ben Badler: For expected value: Cahill, Anderson, Rodriguez. For ETA, I'd bump Anderson slightly ahead of Cahill because his command is more advanced.

Q: Jimmy from Chesapeake, VA asks:
Thanks for the chat. Is the A's trio of Cahill, Anderson and Gonzalez the best in the game. Where would Inoa fall among those three as a prospect?
A:

Ben Badler: For trio of pitching prospects yes, just slightly edging out Price/Davis/Hellickson (or McGee), although Price is the best of that bunch. When Matusz takes the field the Orioles will be solid with Matusz, Tillman and Erbe, and the Giants are in the conversation too with Alderson/Bumgarner/Sosa.

No. 2 BRETT ANDERSON, LHP
ATHLETICS

Team: Double-A Midland (Texas)
Age: 20
Why He's Here: 1-1, 1.93, 14 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 3 BB, 13 SO
The Scoop: Anderson has become one of the game's best pitching prospects in an organization replete with quality young pitchers. With Anderson and Triple-A lefty Gio Gonzalez, the A's can make a strong case as having the best one-two punch of lefthanded pitching prospects, especially now that the latter half of the Rays' David Price and Jake McGee has fallen victim to Tommy John surgery. Anderson won't light up the radar gun, though he does have a plus fastball, but he doesn't need to throw flames to be successful. Instead he relies on his premium command and his secondary pitches that are frequently plus offerings.

I doubt the A's will give up this much for Bay. They like their pitching too much.

Oh and also, Jolstad, Sanchez and McLouth were also taken out of the game, and I highly doubt either of them are being dealt, so I'm not really sure what's going on there.

This might be a moot point if Bay was really traded to the Mets, but Cahill/Anderson/Cardenas/Simmons or Mazzaro for anyone is overpaying, unless maybe it is Longoria.

"how they fare against that pitcher"

They would have faced the starting pitcher in the 5th inning. So that point makes no sense.

Taking out Bay, McLouth, and Sanchez has to mean there is a trade/trades being made.

You don't take out a third of your starting lineup in the 5th inning regardless of the score.

Don't be surprised if Huston Street is involved. Sounds like a potential 3-way trade.

Street makes too much money according to A's standards.

Street signed a one-year deal for $3.3 million before the season to avoid arbitration.

Billy Beane has never believed in paying a closer that much money. The A's have a surplus of potential closers at a far cheaper price.

I don't think Casilla or Devine can save right now, maybe Devine in a year or two. Ziegler and Blevins...no. They are just BP guys and Ziegler will come down from Cloud 9 soon. He just tied a modern day record for starting his career with 25 straight scoreless innings and didn't get any media attention, what the hell? Haha

Woh there CGone, Anderson and Cahill or not going anywhere together. I would be extremely surprised to see either of them traded.

As for the potential trade, the three way only makes sense if Bay is heading to Oakland.

Was this a rumor, or is anyone else hearing Bay to NYM?

I know the A's don't get any media attention but maybe a quick nod on SportsCenter? Haha

I know they won't both be going, but somebody said that and it got me scared. I would like to get Bay, I just don't want to give up any good prospects.

I hope we hold on to Street for at least a couple more seasons, I really see him as somewhat of the face of our franchise, I love the guy.

Street costs too much money though. He might get 6 million in arbitration next year, and 9 million in 2010. I think his value is a bit down since he blew his last two saves, so if the A's don't get a good return, I am cool waiting for next year to trade him. The A's bullpen is a bit thin due to injuries right now, but should be solid next year with Casilla and Devine being the closer/8th inning guy, and bringing Ziegler in with runners on to get ground balls.

One thing about Ziegler that never gets mentioned is that he only gave up one run in 24 1/3 innings this year at Sacramento. That would be a combined era of 0.18

I also didn't read anything about a trade on the Pirates message board, although I read a lot about disgruntled fans there, so I am glad this rumor was posted. Sounds like the Pirates not only have a team that isn't currently winning, but it doesn't sound like their farm is too strong either.

Down 9 to 1 in the 5th inning and you start pulling your starters? No wonder the Pirates have been so bad for so long. I have never heard of pulling starters that early in a game especially against perhaps the worst team in the Majors!

i am not saying it was a good move, but you know, some managers have been known to "pull starters" when the score is 0-0.

Managers often go with a B-unit on day-games-after-night-games to rest their starters.

they will also often give starters a day off the day before an off-day so that the starters get a full 2days rest.

Was this better or worse? At least at 9-1, you can be fairly certain the game is an "L".

Bay still may be heading to the A's.

The A's need that right hand batter. Bay's salary may be high for the A's.

Just wish we knew more about the potential Fremont stadium.