The Athletics are looking at multiple potential outfield acquisition targets, reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). Among them is Sam Fuld of the Twins, who started the year in Oakland.
Oakland could be looking to bolster its depth in the outfield due to concern over Coco Crisp’s neck injury, tweets Slusser’s colleague John Shea. Combined with the broken right hand of Craig Gentry, the A’s could suddenly be a bit thin, especially up the middle. Speedy minor leaguer Billy Burns will take an active roster spot in the meantime, but he was slashing just .250/.333/.330 at Double-A (albeit with 51 stolen bases).
Fuld, 32, owns a .261/.350/.367 line on the year with 13 swipes of his own in just 219 plate appearances. He was claimed by Minnesota after the A’s put him on outright waivers when Gentry made it back from a DL stint earlier in the year.
Ichiro for Milone
no thanks, rather have Millone
As an Angels fan I endorse this move, anything to make the A’s weaker!
dexter fowler.
Dodgers have some to choose from all all- stars for the exception of Puig.
What about Brandon Barnes? That could be a good guy to use for a few weeks.
The Angels have some extra outfielder and could use some extra pitching depth, the A’s have some extra pitching and could use an outfielder….. if only they weren’t division rivals LAA and OAK could line up well in a trade.
Could a deal centered around Jon Jay or Craig for Milone work? Cards get a solid mid-rotation starter and clear some of their OF logjam while the A’s get either a solid if unspectacular CF (Jay) or a decent buy low option in Craig with a reasonable enough contract.
The A’s are looking for more of a short term option while Crisp is on the DL. Craig and Jay are long term pieces. The A’s have Moss, Cespedece and Crisp all under contract for at least 2 more years.
And Gentry
You’re right, Craig really isn’t a good fit. Jay on the other hand could still fit well. Moss is more of a 1st baseman anyways & not having to play the OF should be beneficial to his health. Gentry is a lesser OF than Jay so I doubt the A’s would mind the upgrade, let alone the fact that hand injuries tend to have lingering negative effects. After Crisp comes back you could always use Jay as a 4th OF, a role he’d be perfect for.
Shouldn’t have let him in the first place
To be honest, I believe Andre Either is the right guy to go in this case. The dodgers would have to eat part of his contract, due to the Billy Beane method of not taking in salary. He can hit and field, and could serve as a clutch player down the stretch. Tommy milone, Luke gregerson and a prospect can get this deal done!!!
Eithier might actually be a decent option, but you are absolutely dreaming (or joking) if you think the Dodgers could get Milone, Gregerson and a prospect for him. If the Dodgers pick up most of his contact I could see them getting one mid level prospect. Gregerson is going nowhere, Millone is a possibility but I’d imagine Beane would ask for almost all of Eithiers salary to be paid in that case.
I think the A’s are OK in OF depth. I think Burns is the best available replacement for Gentry anyways in terms of role fit. As far as Milone goes, I think the A’s should package Milone and Hammel to the Pirates or some other SP-needy NL team for two prospects to pair with Nunez to get Lester. Perhaps in a dream world, they get to keep a prospect for themselves in that transaction as well to replace McKinley.
Another idea: Milone and Hammel and a Red Sox veteran to the Mariners, Franklin and Lester to the A’s, Nunez and Mariners prospect to the Red Sox — The A’s and Mariners are competing for different playoff spots, the Mariners need to maximize their shot at the Wild Card, the A’s need to be all in for the division. The two wild card format makes it less scary to do in-division trades.