1:15pm: Oakland is indeed still interested in adding a righty bat, GM David Forst tells reporters including Joe Stiglich of CSN Bay Area (Twitter link).
10:33am: The Athletics have at least expressed some interest in free-agent slugger Mark Trumbo, according to a report from Jon Heyman of Fan Rag. Oakland played a notable role in driving the market for Edwin Encarnacion, offering him a high-AAV, short-term deal before he landed with the Indians.
It’s worth emphasizing, as does the report, that it’s not yet clear to what degree Oakland intends to push for Trumbo. In theory, the organization could take an approach analogous to its pursuit of Encarnacion by dangling a shorter-term arrangement; or, it could perhaps go slightly longer at a lower annual salary. But the A’s may also be looking to function as a landing spot if Trumbo ends up failing to find a substantial contract elsewhere.
Previously, the Orioles reportedly made Trumbo an offer of four years and over $50MM. But that particular arrangement isn’t on the table at present (so far as the most recent reporting suggests). The Rockies, too, are said to be keeping an eye on Trumbo as they continue to weigh their various options — which could theoretically involve adding a first baseman, shifting Ian Desmond to the outfield, and moving an existing outfielder for pitching.
[RELATED: Athletics, Orioles, and Rockies Depth Charts]
As for the Athletics, it’s possible to imagine them utilizing Trumbo in any number of ways. He could spend time at DH and first base, joining lefties Stephen Vogt and Yonder Alonso. It’s possible to imagine Trumbo spending time in the corner outfield, too, though the team has already added two outfield pieces this winter (Matt Joyce and Rajai Davis). And, of course, Oakland already has a lumbering, OBP-challenged, right-handed-hitting corner outfielder in Khris Davis, who turned in a 2016 season remarkably similar to Trumbo’s.
Trumbo, much like Davis, drove over forty long balls in his most recent campaign (47, in the case of the former). Both posted impressive .277 isolated slugging rates, and landed with identical 123 wRC+ marks for their overall production at the plate. But their overall values were limited by relatively hefty strikeout tallies, slightly below-average walk rates, and poorly rated glovework and baserunning.
If you’re gonna spend big, do it on quality, not two platoon corner outfielders and a low-OBP DH
I dunno, Trumbo made some nice adjustments for the year, but his Batting Average did drop through the season, he never lost his power
He was also a clutch hitter, especially during when no one else on the O’s were hitting.
Remember Seattle Trumbo? That’s probably what he is with Oakland. Valuable….but maybe not at what he would like to demand. Im waiting for the A’s to try and shake Carlos Gonzalez or an OF away from Colorado for Sonny Gray.
I member
Sonny Gray will be traded, when he is traded, for a least one or possibly two very good, close to ready pitching prospects.
Probably. I really do feel that the Rockies can make a move for a frontline starter. They have some interesting major league pieces and some interesting pitching and batting prospects….not saying for Sonny Gray but for someone.
His OBP is garbage. Loved to see all the homers but at the end of the day that’s not what the Orioles needed. Too many of the same bat on the roster. Low OBP. Jones/Hardy/Weiters/Trumbo/Schoop
Lets see…the last time the A’s spent big money…$30M for a DH that stunk so bad they had to release him and eat his contract…AKA Billy Butler!
Athletics Have Expressed Interest In Mark Trumbo
I hope they do it!!!!
Trumbo can hit out of any park
Except maybe Seattle
Except definitely Yellowstone.
His first half was awesome. 2nd half not so much. Going to miss the bombs through
So could Billy Butler…how did that work out after $30M
Sign Trumbo and trade for Dozier.
Sign Carter too!
Dozier-Trumbo-Davis-Carter = home run fans be drooling
yeah this is always a fun idea, as cheap as low-OBP power has been on the market the past few years. last year after the orioles traded for trumbo i was saying they should just embrace it and sign carter and pedro alvarez too and go with a carter 1B / trumbo LF / chris davis RF / pedro alv DH alignment. and they almost did! three out of four ain’t bad
YES! And that Orioles team was a contender so maybe youre right in that low OBP/high power guys are the new undervalued player.
That whole lineup would make the HR Derby and probably save them from having to add another Ace to win in the postseason..
1. Davis
2. Joyce
3. Dozier
4. Davis
5. Trumbo
6. Healy
7. Carter
8. Semien
9. Vogt/ Maxwell
The Green Machine!
Ownership should embrace this. All the extra wind generated by the strikeouts could really save on energy costs in the summer.
1
Dozier feels like a Dan Uggla to me, but Dozier in leadership is great. Although we can settle for a better platoon with Wendle/Barreto for cheap.
Bc they play second base and hit home runs? There’s so much more to Doziers game than Uggla
In four full seasons Dozier has put up twice as many Wins Above Replacement than Uggla did in his entire ten year career. So, yeah, they aren’t remotely similar.
What about getting Trumbo for 1B and then signing Chris Carter to DH?
Davis-Trumbo-Carter potentially could be the first 130 homer trio in a while (maybe ever?)
They have lots of power…but i think it needs to be noted that Trumbo and Carter benefited from park effect. Miller and Camden were great places for them. I’d expect their power to come back a bit. I wouldnt expect 100 from the combo.
Meh, both Carter and Trumbo would have no problem at the Coliseum. Hell, Khris Davis just matched Trumbo stat for stat, pretty much.
Red_Line_9 you couldn’t be further from the truth. Carter and Trumbo both ranked in the top 20 in exit velocity last year – that power has absolutely nothing to do with where they played.
How is that far from the truth? They were top 20 in exit velocity yet they were 1 and 7 in hrs? That sounds like two hitters that may have got some hr bump from the parks they played in
trumbo was 2nd in “no doubt” hrs while davis was tied for first in “just enough” HRs. per espns home run tracker
Its coincidence that Carter wracked at Miller then…which is possible. I would question Trumbos contract at the bandied about prices. I still think he’s better at Coors. Khris Davis was hurt a little as well. Good information. Depends in what they want to do I guess…why take Oakland over Coors?
Beane missed out on Encarnation. If he can get Trumbo to agree to the same two years Edwin turned down, he will then have his future trade chip locked and loaded.
$25M/yr is WAY too much for mark trumbo. No thanks.
$18M per is fine though.
I’m going to guess that they sign Carter for 2/13 instead of Trumbo for 4/75………Makes no sense financially to sign Trumbo, when Carter has almost the same stats (and a better OBP)
Players have to know that when the A’s come knocking in free agency that it’s likely only so they can flip them at a later point to another team. Have to imagine that it plays negatively in at least some players minds when it comes time to decide whether to sign with the A’s or not.
This is true when talking about signing with the A’s for 3+ years, but guys signing 1-2 years probably don’t mind getting traded to a contender at the deadline (if the A’s aren’t contending).
This is the last piece other than another veteran starter, if we are wanting to compete/building process.
The issues here are : Billy Beane is played out- more overrated as a GM than anything. The team isn’t competitive and won’t be for a while. The stadium out there is a big pile of garbage, the taxes are high and the cost of living is high. Who would want to play there?
Many teams have done a partial rebuild for a stadium, while trying to at least compete with somewhat of a system Oakland has. Also getting players like Rajai and maybe Trumbo will increase ticket sales to drive in more revenue to help finding a new stadium.
i find it very hard to believe that Raji Davis is going to be a massive attendance draw
That made scotch come out of my nose, I laughed so hard. And I was drinking Pepsi at the time.
Actually many of us are excited to have him back in Oakland. Fans really enjoyed his hustle and you knew when he got on he was stealing a base. This signing will bring fans back along with the new voice from ownership. Attendance will be up in Oakland this year.
I hope so…those fans are a last to watch on tv.
You’re not wrong about the cost of living, but the quality of living is pretty good, at least compared to Baltimore.
hey check it out we have up and down votes again. it’s about time
Wouldn’t it make more sense for Oakland to Just call the Sox and Ask about Fraizer for 1yr 13mill
Well Frazier is still in contract, and yes a trade for Frazier would make more sense for Healy to move to his primary position at 1B (although he is a bad a at 3B). What your saying would fit better, but what the sox would want is pitching prospects and ours are too good to give up for Fraizer. Solid thought though!
The A’s are going to suck in 2017 so giving up resources for one year of Frazier is pointless. Especially with Chapman waiting in the wings.
I would say we have a great future starting staff if sonny can pull ahead again. I agree with the future in Chapman, but I don’t think we’ll suck in 2017. Beginning of 2016 I thought we were heading somewhere, but as always injuries killed us. Then of course Oakland does what they always do and trade some of our favorite players away. The beautiful thing about baseball is that you never know what team may compete.
Let me put it this way I guess — The A’s need more than Todd Frazier to compete in 2017.
Yup, still agree which is why I wouldn’t want Frazier. If Oakland got rid of Jed for a solid starter I’d be much happier.
Chapman doesn’t look ready to start in 2017, but maybe around the trade deadline, after Frazier is moved to a contender for prospects, that might be a perfect way to pass the torch.
Frazier, Bautista, Carter & Trumbo might be enough. Dozier or Forsythe might be gettable too.
they won 69 games last year. signing/trading for a bunch of vets on the wrong side of 30 worth maybe 13 total WAR isnt going to help.
I personally don’t understand why Oakland would sign any one year player. Seems like a total waste of money to me. Maybe they’re under pressure from MLB to look like they’re trying to win?
To try to get better and win some more games. It’s baseball, any team can win if it tries.
So all the teams that aren’t winning just aren’t trying? This is an interesting perspective
Sorry but baseball doesn’t work like videogames, the front office MUST acquire players people know and who will pay to see. Being that the farm looks about a year away, this is just fine.
thats actually not true at all. you could have a team of players everyone knows, but if the team sucks, attendance will drop. that is a fact thar has been verified a multitude of times.
1 year deals are fine. athletics seem to be all about liquidity. there arent too many players that become an albatross for them. for the most part, the players they lose get worse too. some exceptions obviously
So they can trade them at the deadline for prospects? That’s basically what they are trying to do. Buy low on guys are desperate to sign (or teams desperate to move otherwise productive players) and then flip them to desperate teams at the deadline.
Yes they are.
Sources say Billy Beane and Co. are raving pretty hard on Trumbo’s power but whether they’re raving on his defense is yet to be determined
Nobody has brought up Trumbo’s defense at catcher. Since he’s never played that position, he doesn’t have rave reviews there.
His defense at DH, however, has drawn rave reviews.
He needs to stay on orioles
What is fan rag and why did Jon Heyman switch over there?
It’s been a while..
No thanks. Reminds me to much of Billy Butler. Trumbo cost way to much to trade later for prospects.
Butler never hit more than 29 homers in a single season, totally different type of hitter.
you’re right, Butler could actually do something at the plate besides hitting a home run or striking out. Like, you know, take a walk or hit the ball into a gap for extra bases. Trumbo might be the most overrated free agent still available.
His projected dollar value over rates him…but he has value on the field. Like anyone…hes great at the right price.
This news would seem to benefit Trumbo much more than it could possibly benefit the A’s, so I’m thinking this comes from his agent and is only partially true.
Possibly. Im not sure why the A’s would give him his reported multi year deal. IF this is agent created….then its to knock Colorado and Baltimore off the fence. We’re in a Mexican standoff at this point with this slugger log jam. Outside of money…I just dont see why Oakland benefits Trumbo. I know they were tossing cash at Encarnacion, but that doesnt mean they are just out to spend.
We will see how many HR he hits in another park.
Would be a great fit for the A’s, especially due to the trade of OF Billy Burns, Oakland could used a big bat and a great defensive veteran on their squad
Billy Bean has surprised me more times than I can count. Mark Trumbo fits as a 1B for Oakland. That would open the door for some rapid wheeling and dealing from his office.
Lol. I’m sure they’ll “express interest” in Bryce Harper as a FA too.
Trumbo had 4 years at $50M on the table from the Orioles, but that arrangement is not on the table at present. The O’s offered a fair deal. Trumbo is not worth more than that, he has missed his bus. I can’t see any other club offering him 4y/50M.
I don’t either. Colorado might get as close as anyone unless they are truly serious about playing Desmond at first. Go Liberty!
Do.Not.Want.
He’s Khris Davis. How many of those do we need? I’d much rather go after Austin Jackson or Desmond Jennings and solidify the OF defense a little more. Even Colby Rasmus.. but a Trumbo signing would be looking for a splashy name over a more effective player/fit.