The A’s aren’t looking to make major changes this summer, but they won’t deal their young players even if they do make trades, GM Billy Beane told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. The A’s haven’t ruled out making moves, but they want to build up a base of young talent.
"That's one of the reasons we acquired Conor Jackson,” Beane said. “Not just for right now, but he's a younger player and his age makes him very attractive."
Two A’s veterans, Ben Sheets and Coco Crisp, have been tabbed as potential trade candidates, but Slusser says Sheets “isn’t stirring up interest” and points out that Crisp has barely played. ESPN.com’s Buster Olney reported that the A’s can afford to cover some of the $5.4MM remaining on Sheets’ salary in order to obtain better prospects. The right-hander has a 3.79 ERA, less than one hit allowed per inning pitched and twice as many strikeouts as walks since the Blue Jays lit him up for nine runs on May 2nd.
Even contenders are hesitant to deal young players, so it would be surprising if the A's, who are 10.0 games out of a playoff spot, decided to trade young talent away.
Did anyone think they were going to?
I got another idea for an article: “Cardinals want to keep Pujols”
So they won’t be making any trades?
Well if someone wants Ben Sheets or Coco Crisp…
Conor Jackson (for instance) is a nice player, has a decent OBP but little pop for a 1B/OF type. If he were the exception, then fine. The A’s have relatively no hitting stars, and specifically, no power bats. Sweeney, Davis, Suzuki, Barton – all players with skills, but will any of them break 20 HR this year? Cust might qualify if he can make contact, but I long for the days when we had guys who could bash AND get on base – Jaha, Stairs, Giambi (steroids or not, he still has above-average pop and a great eye).
Stay tuned for Chris Carter and Michael Choice.
Michael Taylor 😉
Michael Taylor 😉
Stay tuned for Chris Carter and Michael Choice.
I believe the A’s will wheel and deal and try to get better via trades. Do they really have a choice?
The A’s spent the entire offseason trying to give money to FAs and nobody would take it. (Scutaro and Beltre took less money to not sign with A’s.)
The A’s ability to sign free agents is very similar to their ability to hit with runners in scoring position. From time to time they get it done, but not at a high enough rate.
And I don’t think East Oakland has gotten any more enticing for free agents. So how are the A’s going to get better?
I believe the A’s will deal Wuertz, Ziegler, and Mark Ellis all before the trade deadline @ the end of June or @ the waiver deadline in August. I am not saying …I am just saying.
I believe the A’s will wheel and deal and try to get better via trades. Do they really have a choice?
The A’s spent the entire offseason trying to give money to FAs and nobody would take it. (Scutaro and Beltre took less money to not sign with A’s.)
The A’s ability to sign free agents is very similar to their ability to hit with runners in scoring position. From time to time they get it done, but not at a high enough rate.
And I don’t think East Oakland has gotten any more enticing for free agents. So how are the A’s going to get better?
I believe the A’s will deal Wuertz, Ziegler, and Mark Ellis all before the trade deadline @ the end of June or @ the waiver deadline in August. I am not saying …I am just saying.
Trade Sheets for something, anything. Trade Crisp once he starts showing what he can do. Trade Raja Davis. What we really need is a real shortstop. I love both Pennington and Rosales but neither is showing “starter”
Trade Sheets for something, anything. Trade Crisp once he starts showing what he can do. Trade Raja Davis. What we really need is a real shortstop. I love both Pennington and Rosales but neither is showing “starter”
Agree wholeheartedly…Carter is looking more and more like a full-time career DH, probably the closest analogy would be Frank Thomas circa 2000, minus the high number of walks. I do recall when Beane originally got Barton, that many scouts that he would be a perennial .300/.400 hitter, but many figured he would have at least a bit more punch, though never a 30 HR threat.
I did forget Taylor momentarily, but even he has his question marks – pitch recognition, too old for the levels that he is dominating. No prospect is ever a sure thing – I just wonder if the A’s would’ve been better off keeping Wallace after all, even if OF is a need position – puts Wallace at 1B, Carter at DH, and trade for an OF.
The A’s have a club option on Crisp for 5.75MM next season with a 500K buyout, it’d be very surprising to see them exercise that option.
The A’s have a club option on Crisp for 5.75MM next season with a 500K buyout, it’d be very surprising to see them exercise that option.
Relief help is always scarce, especially with a team with a young core of SPs, but I think they have enough arms in the system and already up (Ross, Rodriguez, Mortensen, Simmons) that they could fill a few spots adequately for this year. Who knows, maybe you find the next Bailey, or Ziegler, along the way. If someone makes a decent offer of a prospect for Zieg or Wuertz, I say take it.
Relief help is always scarce, especially with a team with a young core of SPs, but I think they have enough arms in the system and already up (Ross, Rodriguez, Mortensen, Simmons) that they could fill a few spots adequately for this year. Who knows, maybe you find the next Bailey, or Ziegler, along the way. If someone makes a decent offer of a prospect for Zieg or Wuertz, I say take it.