On this date in 1986, the Mets and Twins completed a five-player trade involving former first rounder Billy Beane. Now the Athletics’ GM, Beane completed a trade today, obtaining Seth Smith from Colorado for Guillermo Moscoso and Josh Outman. Here are the latest Athletics-related links…
- Beane says the Athletics are still looking for right-handed hitting outfielder depth, Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group tweets. Michael Taylor will have to play his way into the picture, according to Stiglich.
- John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle hears that the A's are pursuing a Jonny Gomes/Ryan Ludwick type for depth. The A's haven't ruled out Johnny Damon, Shea tweets.
- Outman told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that the trade was "bittersweet," but that he's "not mad by any means," Pitching so far above sea level will be an adjustment for the fly ball pitcher, however.
- Moscoso told Slusser that he's "in shock," although he's looking forward to the opportunity in Colorado.
can a a’s fan explain what there doing here, i thought they were cutting pay role by trading gio and then then they get guys like smith and colon who should be gone long before they move to san jose
With Billy Beane actions are more important than words. Watch what he does rather than what he says. This is where some A’s fans get confused.
Just because Beane said the incredibly obviuos—his team in no way compete with the Angels and Texas, does NOT mean he’s going to roll over and deliberately turn the A’s into a 50-win team for the next three seasons.
All of his trades makes sense (unlike some of the past rades like Hudson and Gonzalez) in the short, medium and long-term.
It’s confusing for a few fans as we see by the Carter, Taylor and Barton comments. Reddick, Smith, Crisp and Cowgill are the medium-term (three years, two in Crisp’s case) outfield. Parker, Peacock and Milone will pitch again in the major leagues before 2014. All are major league ready and none will be blocked by “arby clock” nonsense. Take it to the bank.;)
Right handed outfield/DH depth… Manny’s looking for a job!
I’m surprised they’re still looking for outfield depth. In the outfield, they already have Crisp, Smith, Reddick, Cowgill, and Taylor. I guess they want someone to platoon with Smith in left given that Smith doesn’t hit lefties very well. In that sense, both Ludwick and Gomes would make sense. However, Damon does not unless they were to play him at DH, which with Carter and Allen in the fold, is unlikely.
I’m glad the A’s picked up someone that can hit the ball out of the park. Moscoso had a fluke year last year, he has a above average fastball and no quality 2ndry pitch. Josh has a lot of upside, sad to see him go after he worked so hard to come back from Timmy John. Peacock, milone, and Parker with Ross, Braden, Colin, McCarthy, Godfrey. Still a ton of options to start!
Who did Beane pick up that can hit the ball out of the ball park this offseason?
Gomes and Ludwick are no better than the prospects they’d use as backup/platoon OF’s anways, what’s the point? They should bring back Rich Harden and let him close, I think that would be exciting.
Totally agree. Maybe even give him the option to start. Always liked Harden.
agree, except replace harden with francis
Harden’s got more upside. Go with Harden.
Francis has the better chance of being healthy at the trade deadline though
A guy with notorious arm problems pitching at max effort on back to back days does not seem like the greatest idea to me
how bout a third baseman beane ever though about that?
Scott Sizemore was just fine last year.
from what beane says he likes smith becuse he is in his prime,cheap, and under control for 3 years i think he keeps crisp and smith until the trade deadline next year at lest i think we need a dh still chris carter has the speed of 12 dead turtles and is not that good hes had a few chances and dose nothing with them until he proves me wrong thats what im going with
I would be happy bringing Matsui back. That guy did his job. Esp 2nd half.
yea i would not mind him but the yankees might be getting him this might turn out to be a descent team you never know
no no and no to matsui, can get the same production out of a rotation of carter, ka’aiahue, and allen
Beane has now acquired three outfielders in three separate trades as well as re-signed FA Coco Crisp. He’s done a decent job, IMO, rebuilding the outfield and is not done yet. It’s also a clear signal that Michael Taylor is not in the plans this year. With Chrisp, Reddick, Smith and Cowgill under team control for at least the next two years, Billy isn’t going to rush Michael Choice or Grant Green, either. I expect Choice up no earlier than June of 2013.
Time to sign Jeff Francis to a 1 year deal. It would give the A’s enough pitching to get through the year so a trade or 2 at trade deadline will be possible.
Ludwick off the market thankfully
Anybody have any thoughts on Damon returning to Oakland as a DH this year?
Do not want…..or need…..at all
billy beane should avoid hitters like him, gomes, ross, etc. Coco crisp should be our one and only major league free agent outfielder, now beane should focus on Soler and one of francis (to a 2 year contract), oswalt (to a 1 year contract), and someone else like them who will be a) healthy and b) helped enough by the colliseum enough that he would be traded at the deadline for a decent prospect
I’d take Juan Pierre at DH over Damon
it would be better then that slug chris carter
Great trade Beane. Giving the Rockies Carlos Gonzalez will guarantee Beane will always have a trade partner moving forward, one he can completely dominate because he didn’t like C-Gone.
99% of baseball people underestimate how great of a pitcher’s park Oakland is. Beane knows he will be in a new park in 2/3/4 years, so getting rid of useless pitchers who’s stats and potential are gigantically inflated because of the A’s stadium and defense is huge. Beane knows his window of selling off these average pitchers is short. How sexy will Balfour look at the break with 17 saves? How sexy will McCarthy look with ace stats?
No A’s pitcher with MLB experience is safe. They will all be gone in the next two years, and Beane will likely give worthless pitchers like Moscoso/Colon the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation to gain trade value, while keeping extra years of control with the prospects.
By the way, Seth Smith can hit, and many teams are interested in him. That’s value, while giving up nothing.
Agree. I like this trade a lot and look forward to the new outfield. Billy’s done an excellent job this off-season
Great trade Beane. Giving the Rockies Carlos Gonzalez will guarantee Beane will always have a trade partner moving forward, one he can completely dominate because he didn’t like C-Gone.
99% of baseball people underestimate how great of a pitcher’s park Oakland is. Beane knows he will be in a new park in 2/3/4 years, so getting rid of useless pitchers who’s stats and potential are gigantically inflated because of the A’s stadium and defense is huge. Beane knows his window of selling off these average pitchers is short. How sexy will Balfour look at the break with 17 saves? How sexy will McCarthy look with ace stats?
No A’s pitcher with MLB experience is safe. They will all be gone in the next two years, and Beane will likely give worthless pitchers like Moscoso/Colon the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation to gain trade value, while keeping extra years of control with the prospects.
By the way, Seth Smith can hit, and many teams are interested in him. That’s value, while giving up nothing.