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Latest On Andrew Bailey

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Athletics closer Andrew Bailey likely will be traded to the Red Sox or Rangers, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney, who notes that both suitors have interest and the chips needed.  Earlier this month the Rangers won the right to negotiate with Yu Darvish and the Red Sox acquired Mark Melancon, but reports indicated both clubs remained interested in Bailey.  The Rangers might have an excess of starters if they sign Darvish and keep Alexi Ogando out of the 'pen.

In a report a week ago, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports noted that the Rays are also in on Bailey.

Athletics Interested In Jorge Soler

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The Athletics have strong interest in five-tool Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.  She says Yoenis Cespedes' price tag is too high for the A's, and his desire for either a four or ten-year deal doesn't work for them.

Soler, 19, has also been linked to the Yankees, Phillies, Nationals, Cubs, and Rangers this offseason.  Nationals Director of International Scouting Johnny DiPuglia has watched Soler for years, and told Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, "He’s got a Hanley Ramirez-type body.  Plus arm. Plus bat speed. He’s a good kid, a good-energy kid."  Though Soler would need more minor league seasoning, it's been written he could have more upside than Cespedes.  Soler is younger and more talented than the Rangers' Leonys Martin, wrote Baseball America's Jim Callis, so he figures to beat Martin's $15.6MM contract.  Callis notes that the $2.9MM international signing cap installed in the new CBA doesn't begin until the 2012-13 signing period, so as long as Soler signs before July 2nd, there are no limitations.

Slusser also adds to the A's-San Jose story in another article.  She talked to former Giants general managing partner Peter Magowan, who thinks San Jose is "wishful thinking" for the A's.  She also learned from A's owner Lew Wolff and others that the stadium issue is not on the agenda for the owners' meetings in two weeks.

Quick Hits: Theriot, Smith, Athletics, Dodgers

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It’s been a quiet day from a transactions standpoint, but we’ve got some late night links to pass along as Tuesday turns into Wednesday…

  • The Rockies have some interest in free agent infielder Ryan Theriot, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post (Twitter links). The Rockies are considering many options at second base and there’s no indication that the team is seriously pursuing Theriot at the moment, but it’s the first time he’s been linked to Colorado since the Cardinals non-tendered him earlier this month.
  • It’s “very likely” that the Rockies will trade Seth Smith before Opening Day, Renck writes.
  • Athletics managing partner Lew Wolff told Jane Lee and Barry M. Bloom of MLB.com that the club isn't any closer to moving to San Jose to his knowledge. "We're still looking for a 'yes' or 'no' answer," he said. USA Today recently reported that the A’s may soon obtain permission to move.
  • Free agent infielder Omar Vizquel suggested on Twitter that he wouldn't consider signing with the Mets. The 44-year-old has indicated that he would be interested in signing with the Giants.
  • Billionaire Steven Cohen is bidding for the Dodgers, according to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times. Agent Arn Tellem and former deputy commissioner Steve Greenberg are allies with Cohen, who has already met with some MLB owners, according to Shaikin.

Two Teams Have “Viable” Interest In Iwakuma

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MONDAY: Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Athletics are "lukewarm" on Iwakuma, but there are two teams with "viable" interest in the right-hander. Oakland is not one of them, however.

SUNDAY: There are four teams talking to free agent Japanese right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma, according to Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group (via Twitter). The Athletics, who won the bidding on Iwakuma last winter but couldn't work out a contract, are one of the four, says Stiglich.

The Rakuten Golden Eagles posted Iwakuma a year ago, but ultimately re-signed him after the righty was unable to agree to a deal with the A's. Oakland bid about $19.1MM for the right to exclusively negotiate with Iwakuma, but were reluctant to commit the type of salary the pitcher was seeking on top of the posting fee.

Iwakuma has now reached free agency, so the Sosnick-Cobbe client can sign a contract with any MLB club. Besides the A's, the Twins may be one of the four clubs involved. They placed second in the Iwakuma bidding last year, and were said to have him on their radar last month. Perhaps the Orioles are in as well — Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun wrote this week that Dan Duquette is "exceptionally well-versed in international players," and the O's have targeted arms such as Tsuyoshi Wada and Wei-Yin Chin since the new GM's arrival.

Athletics Could Soon Receive Permission For Move

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The Athletics will be granted permission to move to San Jose by February, top Major League sources tell Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter).  A's GM Billy Beane declined comment on the report according to Joe Stiglich of the Bay Area News Group (via Twitter).  However, Nightengale tweets that the A's have received private assurances from MLB about the impending approval but cannot speak about it publicly.

The A's have been said to be basing their spending decisions on the fate of the new stadium.  Getting a new ballpark would signal the club to go into an all-out rebuilding mode in order to field a competitive team for the new space.  If the A's didn't feel that they could get the new stadium that they seek, they likely would have increased spending in the short-term in order to make the franchise more attractive to a prospective owner.

Yesterday, Beane admitted that the club's recent moves were made with an eye on a brand new ballpark being in their future.  The club's recent trades involving Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez give the A's a fresh stock of prospects that should be able to help them win a few years down the road.

The Athletics will have to pay the Giants for territorial rights if they move to San Jose, but that amount has yet to be determined, Nightengale tweets.

AL West Links: Athletics, Suzuki, Trumbo, Mariners

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Five years ago today, the Rangers traded John Danks, Nick Masset, and Jacob Rasner for the White Sox for Brandon McCarthy and David Paisano. Danks developed into a rock solid starter for Chicago (and recently agreed to a big extension), but McCarthy battled injuries and pitched to a 4.68 ERA during his four years with Texas. Here's the latest from the AL West…

  • In today's Insider-only blog post, ESPN's Buster Olney says the Athletics never got into deep talks with the Reds about Gio Gonzalez, but they would not have traded the lefty for the four-player package Cincinnati gave up for Mat Latos.
  • Within the same piece, Olney wonders if the Athletics will eventually trade Kurt Suzuki after acquiring Derek Norris in the Gonzalez trade. Suzuki is under contract through 2013 for a total of $11.45MM, plus the team holds an $8.5MM club option for 2014. The 28-year-old backstop hit just .237/.301/.385 in 2011, though he's started at least 120 games behind the plate in each of the last four seasons.
  • Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports suggests that the Angels trade Mark Trumbo this offseason while his value is high (all Twitter links). Enough teams need a power bat that there will be a market for him, and Morosi speculates about a fit between the Halos and Indians. He notes that the Angels are looking for bullpen help, and the Tribe have some arms to spare.
  • Some Athletics people were hoping the Rangers didn't win the bidding for Yu Darvish because they felt Texas could offer more for Gonzalez than what they got from the Nationals according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).
  • Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times hears that the Mariners will declare a $6.75MM operating loss in 2011, the second largest of the Safeco Field era behind 2008 (Twitter link). Baker says the team has past surplus revenue to cover the loss.

Beane On Stadium, Payroll, Draft, Trades, Free Agents

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Athletics GM Billy Beane spoke to reporters after the Gio Gonzalez trade was made official earlier today. Here's a recap of the news…

  • "We’re putting a team together as if we’re going to have a new stadium," said Beane according to MLB.com's Jane Lee (on Twitter). "I don’t think we have any other choice."
  • Beane said that payroll will be reduced from last season because they're going to devote more money to the draft given all their high picks next year, says Joe Stiglich of The Bay Area News (Twitter links). Oakland currently holds the 11th, 34th, 45th, 54th, and 67th overall picks in 2012.
  • Trade and free agent talks continue according Lee and Stiglich (Twitter links). The duo say it's safe to assume that Andrew Bailey is among those being discussed, and the A's are likely seeking outfielders.

Athletics Designate Jai Miller For Assignment

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The Athletics have designated Jai Miller for assignment according to a team press release. This move and the earlier Landon Powell move get Oakland's 40-man roster back down to 40 players following the Gio Gonzalez trade.

Miller, 27 in January, hit .276/.368/.588 with 32 homers and 16 steals in 475 plate appearances for the Athletics' Triple-A affiliate this season. He's a .235/.288/.368 career hitter in 73 big league plate appearances spread across the last four years. Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle says (on Twitter) that Miller had mentioned as an outfield candidate next year, so the team must be hoping he clears waivers.

Athletics Designate Landon Powell For Assignment

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The Athletics have designated catcher Landon Powell for assignment, reports Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter links). Oakland currently has 41 players on their 40-man roster following the Gio Gonzalez trade, so they still must make another roster move.

"Not fun to find out two days before Christmas," said Powell, who told Slusser he hopes to get picked up by another team or traded. The 29-year-old backstop is a .207/.284/.328 career hitter in 406 big league plate appearances. He has thrown out 29 of 73 attempted basestealers during his career, a stellar 39.7%. 

Reaction To The Gio Gonzalez Trade

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The Nationals were the winners of the Gio Gonzalez sweepstakes, acquiring the left-hander from the A's today for a package of four well-regarded prospects: A.J. Cole, Tom Milone, Derek Norris and Brad Peacock.  Here's a look at some of the reaction and analysis of this blockbuster trade…

  • The Nats didn't want to give up both Peacock and Milone but eventually acquiesced, reports Amanda Comak of the Washington Times.  Comak points out that the Nats have found themselves with a left-handed starter who is younger and less expensive than their first target this offseason, Mark Buehrle.
  • Washington's recent strong drafts gave the team enough prospect depth to make this deal possible, notes Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  The Nationals "improved their rotation to the point where they may be a contender," Heyman writes.  
  • "I don’t know how Oakland could have done better,” a scout tells Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.  “They got the right set of names….Quality and depth.”
  • A rival evaluator tells ESPN's Buster Olney (via Twitter) that Peacock reminds him of former Twins starter Brad Radke.  "I'm not sure that in two years, Peacock will [be] better than Gio," the evaluator said.
  • The A's have made two "brilliant hauls" in their trades of Gonzalez and Trevor Cahill, opines MLB.com's Tom Singer (Twitter link).  The A's received Jarrod Parker, Collin Cowgill and Ryan Cook from the Diamondbacks in exchange for Cahill and Craig Breslow two weeks ago.
  • ESPN's Keith Law (Insider subscription required) is not overly impressed with Gonzalez, believing his success to have been at least in part due to the pitcher-friendly Oakland ballpark and the Athletics' defense.  It seems as if Law considers the trade a win for the A's, calling their return haul "a substantial reward" and praising Cole as the new top prospect in Oakland's system. 
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