The latest out of the AL West:
- The Athletics' asking price for Andrew Bailey is currently too high for the Rangers to consider him, tweets Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The Rangers' read on Bailey matches up with comments made by A's GM Billy Beane yesterday — he said many teams he'd talked to walked away wondering whether any A's were actually available, as Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle writes.
- Within Slusser's piece, she writes that the Athletics are considering Conor Jackson as a short-term outfield addition.
- The Athletics are looking for young, high-upside outfielders in any Gio Gonzalez trade, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The Yankees may have to consider a three-team deal if they want to acquire the lefty, since they don't have any outfielders in the high minors that fit that bill.
- Nothing is imminent, but ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick tweets the Rangers are looking into possible contract extensions for many of their core players, including Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Ian Kinsler, and Mike Napoli.
chico65
Billy Beanes demands have been so high other teams are beginning to wonder if he hasn’t been visiting a dispensary on his way to the office.
Steven Resnick
The price should be high not low.
snaketrain
as a dbacks fan i’d like to see the a’s get as much for gio as they did off us for haren…
Fangaffes
Billy Beane apparently believes everything he sees in the movies.
start_wearing_purple
You mean Brad Pitt isn’t running the Athletics?
MadmanTX 2
Brad Pitt isn’t even running Angelina Jolie.
not_brooks
High asking prices on A’s players shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.
Even after arb raises, their payroll probably won’t even break $40MM, so they have no pressing need to move anyone right now.
And the A’s that are sought after on the trade market are all young All Star caliber guys with 3+ years of team control left on their contracts:
Gio’s under team control through 2015, Bailey through 2014, and Cahill doesn’t get expensive (for a SP) until 2015.
Fun fact: The A’s highest paid player in 2012 will be… Brian Fuentes.
MadmanTX 2
Some team I’m sure will mortgage its future for Bailey, but it won’t be the Rangers. I’ll be happy to see those extensions getting signed by New Year’s.
cbcbcb
Could the Phillies become that third team in a deal with the Yankees and A’s. Brown could fit the A’s needs
lefty177
could anyone see the Red Sox send a few prospects to Oakland for Bailey AND Gonzalez? They want young OFs, we have 2 that we aren’t confident enough in
J.j. Miller
Want both?
give up middlebrooks, ranaudo, lavarnway, brentz, reddick, lowrie, anderson..basically emptying your farm system which wont happen
bacboris
So they will want your garbage? Why do Red Sox fans think that everyone is an idiot?
jay the A
Great idea. 2 young, very inexpensive all star pitchers for 2 middle of the road outfield prospects you “aren’t confident enough in”.
where do i sign up?
not_brooks
What do you have to take for Red Sox fan initiation that destroys brain cells?
Is it some kind of beverage? A pill? An injectable syrum?
What is it? Can someone tell me?
What is it that makes Red Sox fans believe that other teams will take their garbage in exchange for top of the line players?
Steven Resnick
Yankees want Gio, yet their fair system is pathetic.
Ed Reed
Yankees Top 15 Prospect List
1.Montero – Blue Chip
2.Banuelos – Blue Chip
3.Sanchez – Blue Chip
4.Betances
5.Williams – Blue Chip
6.Romine
7.Bichette.Jr – Blue Chip
8.Phelps
9.Warren
10.Murphy
11.Marshall
12.Heathcott
13.Mitchell
14.Gumbs
15.Culver
Ed Reed
Yankees have a top 5 system in baseball
YanksFanSince78
Wasn’t our system ranked higher than the A’s?
the_insomniac
I can understand high asking prices for Gonzalez and Cahill. SP can be very hard to find if you’re not developing it yourself. A high asking price for Bailey I do not understand. RP’s can be difficult to project going forward (not to say I don’t believe in Bailey’s talents). Plus, relief pitchers pitch much fewer innings in any given season. Trading multiple prospects for a closer is suicide in the long run for any organization.