The Oakland Athletics

[NiNe2FiVe]

Buster Olney:
•The Diamondbacks are focused on less expensive relief pitchers, like Brad Ziegler and Jason Isringhausen.
•Josh Willingham "is going to be traded at some point."

And the Indians are looking at Dejesus...

Oakland may well realize that luck is part of the problem, but it doesn’t matter. The A’s are all but out of the playoff race—they’re eight games back in the AL West and looking up at even the Seattle Mariners in the division—and with DeJesus’ contract expiring at the end of the season they have no reason not to trade him now.

The Indians could afford DeJesus, both in terms of trading for him and paying him. There are many far flashier right fielders available on the trade market this year—Andre Ethier, Carlos Beltran, Ryan Ludwick, and Kosuke Fukudome, just to name a few—and most contenders aren’t going to spring for a .221 hitter with a recent history of health problems. The A’s won’t give him away for nothing, but they can’t ask for too much since there isn’t much market demand for DeJesus.

He wouldn’t be too expensive in terms of payroll, either. DeJesus is owed less than $3 million for the rest of the season, and that would fall closer to $2 million as the deadline approaches. That ain’t nothing for a small-market team, but if the Dolans are willing to spend in support of a playoff spot, it’s a relatively modest payroll bump that could make a huge difference.

•Rookie Michael Pineda and third-year pitcher Trevor Cahill are among the MLB players with the most trade value, according to Dave Cameron of FanGraphs, who lists his #31-35 top trade chips in baseball. Kevin Youkilis and the recently-extended Jaime Garcia check in in the #26-30 range.

 

[Solitary 1]

Jemille Weeks is looking like a beast.

 

[NiNe2FiVe]

Jemille Weeks is looking like a beast.

Yup. Im glad Mark Ellis found somewhere else to play, Weeks is the future at 2nd.

 

[NiNe2FiVe]

Olney:
•Josh Willingham is being eyed by the Pirates, who have been in touch with the Athletics about the outfielder (Twitter link).

Willingham + _____ for Andrew Mccutchen???

Links:
•Yesterday we learned that the Athletics have received calls on closer Andrew Bailey. Two sources tell Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News that the Rangers are among those teams and the A's have at started looking more in-depth at Texas' farm system.
•The Braves are in search of a bat, but Athletics outfielder Josh Willingham isn’t high on their list, a source told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Earlier today, ESPN's Buster Olney wrote that Willingham "is going to be traded at some point".

 

[martin_07n]

I was at the game today. Co Jack's grand slam was lovely. Stupid Blevlin sp? blew the shut out in the 9th though.

 

[Quick]

Willingham + _____ for Andrew Mccutchen???

".

That blank would be Gonzalez, Cahill, Weeks, Grant Green and probably either Taylor or Carter. Pirates arent trading McCutchen at all, espically now they finally have a winning record.

lol willingham being the main piece for McCutchen.

The A's already had one of the best young outfielders in the game and traded him for what exactly? Billy Beane outsmarted himself on that one........

 

[NiNe2FiVe]

That blank would be Gonzalez, Cahill, Weeks, Grant Green and probably either Taylor or Carter. Pirates arent trading McCutchen at all, espically now they finally have a winning record.

lol willingham being the main piece for McCutchen.

The A's already had one of the best young outfielders in the game and traded him for what exactly? Billy Beane outsmarted himself on that one........

The Pirates are notorious for trading away their young talent. And I would pull the trigger on Willingham/a starter/Carter for McCutchen. McCutchen and Willingham arent THAT far different, you have McC batting like .280 over only 2 seasons for Willingham thats a career .265 hitter with more power. You add a starter and that, essentially, makes the pirates better now while their trying to break into the playoffs...Besides Im not sayin it would be the smartest move for anyone, Im sayin Id like to see it, McCutchen would fit good in Oakland.

 

[Quick]

The Pirates are notorious for trading away their young talent.

The Pirates are notorious for trading away young talent when they become too expensive. The Pirates have him under control until 2014. He's not going anywhere until July 2013 at the earliest. Thats if he doesnt get a long-term deal from them.

And I would pull the trigger on Willingham/a starter/Carter for McCutchen.

And every gm in baseball would do the same but the pirates arent that stupid. They know what they have in McCutchen and so does everyone in baseball. There's no way in HELL, a pitcher and two below average players are going to get him.

McCutchen and Willingham arent THAT far different, you have McC batting like .280 over only 2 seasons for Willingham thats a career .265 hitter with more power.

Let me get some of what your smoking.... I can tell you really dont know what your talking about by saying that. Aren't that different? They couldn't be anymore different. McCutchen is becoming a superstar and already an all-star this year, while on a good team, Willingham is a 4th/5th outfielder. McCutchen = all-star, Willingham = journeymen. They couldn't be anymore different.

With more power? Andrew has more home runs already, so I dont know where your going with that. And by saying there comparable because there average is .015 points apart, is pretty funny really....

You add a starter and that, essentially, makes the pirates better now while their trying to break into the playoffs...Besides Im not sayin it would be the smartest move for anyone, Im sayin Id like to see it, McCutchen would fit good in Oakland.

No no and no. You take away McCutchen from the Pirates and they are back into last place like every other year. He is the Pirates. He is to the Pirates what Buster Posey is to the Giants.

I mean, the A's even got Gio Gonzalez and Ryan Sweeney for Nick swisher. If this deal were to go down, it would take a Dan Haren type deal.

left-handers Brett Anderson, Dana Eveland and Greg Smith; infielder Chris Carter; and outfielders Aaron Cunningham and Carlos Gonzalez.

And if there similar type of players, why even trade for him?

 

[NiNe2FiVe]

The Pirates are notorious for trading away young talent when they become too expensive. The Pirates have him under control until 2014. He's not going anywhere until July 2013 at the earliest. Thats if he doesnt get a long-term deal from them.
And every gm in baseball would do the same but the pirates arent that stupid. They know what they have in McCutchen and so does everyone in baseball. There's no way in HELL, a pitcher and two below average players are going to get him.
Let me get some of what your smoking.... I can tell you really dont know what your talking about by saying that. Aren't that different? They couldn't be anymore different. McCutchen is becoming a superstar and already an all-star this year, while on a good team, Willingham is a 4th/5th outfielder. McCutchen = all-star, Willingham = journeymen. They couldn't be anymore different.
With more power? Andrew has more home runs already, so I dont know where your going with that. And by saying there comparable because there average is .015 points apart, is pretty funny really....
No no and no. You take away McCutchen from the Pirates and they are back into last place like every other year. He is the Pirates. He is to the Pirates what Buster Posey is to the Giants.
I mean, the A's even got Gio Gonzalez and Ryan Sweeney for Nick swisher. If this deal were to go down, it would take a Dan Haren type deal.
And if there similar type of players, why even trade for him?

...Besides Im not sayin it would be the smartest move for anyone, Im sayin Id like to see it, McCutchen would fit good in Oakland.

I guess you didnt read that part, otherwise I dont see why youre jumping all over my back about it. Im well aware McCutchen is under contract, and isnt going anywhere. Sometimes its fun to look at sports like a fan rather than an analyst all the time. Its not an umimaginable scenario to fantasize something like that is possible. How does Willingham not have more power? Because McCutchen has 2 more homeruns at the allstar break? McCutchen has 2 seasons of not hitting more than 16 hr, and < 57 rbis, Willingham is a 20+ hr guy thats avg'd 66 rbis. So if they both hit around 20 hrs, both hit around 60 rbis, both hit around 30 2bs, both have an OBP around .365, both slg around .470, both have an OPS around .835, and both strike out around 90 times a season, how are they not similar? He's the Buster Posey of the Pirates? So he gets hurt for the season and the team is still in first? So which is it, is he pivotal to them winning, or theyre gonna be in first anyway? If Willingham and McCutchen are similar, you trade for McCutchen because he fits into Oakland better...He's young, fast, and is gonna get better, and become the central player of a young team thats growing together, which is what Oakland needs, and that complimented by one of the best pitching staff's in baseball, and promising players like Weeks...So once again...Besides Im not sayin it would be the smartest move for anyone, Im sayin Id like to see it, McCutchen would fit good in Oakland...

 

[Quick]

I guess you didnt read that part, otherwise I dont see why youre jumping all over my back about it. Im well aware McCutchen is under contract, and isnt going anywhere. Sometimes its fun to look at sports like a fan rather than an analyst all the time. Its not an umimaginable scenario to fantasize something like that is possible.

Im looking at it as a fan. Im a fan of McCutchen and for you that say him and Willingham are similiar is pretty insulting to McCutchen. Its about 99.9% unimaginable that this would happen.

How does Willingham not have more power? Because McCutchen has 2 more homeruns at the allstar break? McCutchen has 2 seasons of not hitting more than 16 hr, and < 57 rbis, Willingham is a 20+ hr guy thats avg'd 66 rbis.

There's this stat called slugging percentage.

McCutchen career.466 Willingham career.470.

So if they both hit around 20 hrs, both hit around 60 rbis, both hit around 30 2bs, both have an OBP around .365, both slg around .470, both have an OPS around .835, and both strike out around 90 times a season, how are they not similar?

They dont do the same things. McCutchen is a starter that plays regularly and Willingham is a 4th or 5th outfielder on a good team. He wasnt even an everyday player on the Marlins or the Nationals.

Your comparing the 2nd best center fielder in the game to, again, a 4th or 5th outfielder.

He's the Buster Posey of the Pirates? So he gets hurt for the season and the team is still in first? So which is it, is he pivotal to them winning, or theyre gonna be in first anyway?

lol now your comparing the Giants and the Pirates. Newsflash - the giants won the world series in 2010. I said, he is to the Pirates, what buster posey is to the giants. Do the Pirates have one of the best pitching staffs, if not the best, in baseball? Do they have the best bullpen in baseball? Is the giants infield and outfield made up of career minor leaguers? No, so if you subtract the players from their teams, you arent going to get the same result.

If Willingham and McCutchen are similar, you trade for McCutchen because he fits into Oakland better...He's young, fast, and is gonna get better, and become the central player of a young team thats growing together, which is what Oakland needs,

EVERY SINGLE TEAM IN THE MLB NEEDS THIS. Its not just oakland. All I was saying, is to get McCutchen you have to give 5 to 6 players to get him.

You provided the dream scenario to get him and I presented the real life scenario to get him.

and that complimented by one of the best pitching staff's in baseball, and promising players like Weeks...So once again...Besides Im not sayin it would be the smartest move for anyone, Im sayin Id like to see it, McCutchen would fit good in Oakland...

And when did Gonzalez and Cahill become one of baseballs best pitching staffs? There not even the best in their Division.

Yea the Giants need a second basemen, would Rowand + ______ = Weeks???

I mean the Giants really need to get young at that position and they really could use him.....

 

[NiNe2FiVe]

And when did Gonzalez and Cahill become one of baseballs best pitching staffs? There not even the best in their Division.

Best ERA, Tied for 5th in WHIP
1 Oakland Athletics 3.09
2 San Francisco Giants 3.14
3 Philadelphia Phillies 3.15
4 Atlanta Braves 3.17
5 San Diego Padres 3.22

 

[Quick]

Best ERA, Tied for 5th in WHIP
1 Oakland Athletics 3.09
2 San Francisco Giants 3.14
3 Philadelphia Phillies 3.15
4 Atlanta Braves 3.17
5 San Diego Padres 3.22

That is the combined ERA for every pitcher on the A's, not their starting pitchers. The A's only have 2 pitchers that even qualify.


Gonzalez - 2.33
Cahill - 3.16
Anderson - 4.00
McCarthy - 3.64

Combined total era - 3.28

Dallas Braden had surgery this year. Brett Anderson just had surgery and wont pitch until 2013. And neither of those guys has really proved anything so far in their careers. Guillermo Moscoso, Tyson Ross and Josh Outman look good but I dont know if even one of them will stay on a big league roster for too long.

So really the only established pitchers that the A's have is Gonzalez and Cahill.

1. Angels - Weaver, Haren, Santana
2. Mariners - Hernandez, Pineda
3. Rangers - Wilson, Harrison, Ogando, Lewis
4. A's - Gonzalez, Cahill

You got disagree with that all you want but thats the way I see it.

 

[NiNe2FiVe]

That is the combined ERA for every pitcher on the A's, not their starting pitchers...

Well duh, that's their staff, which is what I said, one of the best staff's in baseball...

 

[Quick]

Well duh, that's their staff, which is what I said, one of the best staff's in baseball...

And this is coming from the guy that thinks Andrew McCutchen and Josh Willingham are basically the same player. Trying being the best in the division first......

 

[Cut-Throat]

Ross is the real deal...

Santana is gettin rocked this year....

Lets let Pineda pitch an entire season before we induct him into the hof...

 

[Chree]

The Mariners, A's, Brewers and Giants have looked at free agent slugger Wily Mo Pena, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). The Diamondbacks recently released Pena, who hit five homers in 46 plate appearances this year.

 

[Quick]

Ross is the real deal...

Santana is gettin rocked this year....

Lets let Pineda pitch an entire season before we induct him into the hof...

I don't know if Ross is the real deal. What I've seen of him, he's looked average but I really haven't seen alot of him.


Santana gets rocked every year. The years when he wasn't hurt, he won 16, 16 and 17 games. He's inconstant but he's proven more then anyone on the A's staff.


And Pineda is a better prospect anyone in the whole A's organization. He's hit a wall lately, but Id rather have him over anyone on the A's staff.

 

[NiNe2FiVe]

Beane Not Impressed By Offers Yet

By Tim Dierkes

GM Billy Beane "believes that two months' more service from the A's pending free agents, plus any potential draft compensation picks for losing them, would be more valuable than the types of proposals he has seen," reports Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Said Beane:

"We've accepted calls on players, but we made it clear we're not going to give these guys away. We don't have any monetary issues, and we're not looking to dump payroll. If we did anything, it would have to help us significantly moving forward, not some team's prospect No. 37. In respect for Bob Melvin, we're not going to strip-mine things for two months for players of no consequence."

Beane has been expected to purge the team of impending free agents David DeJesus, Josh Willingham, Coco Crisp, Conor Jackson, and Rich Harden, plus any number of relievers who are controlled beyond this year. The Athletics' demands for reliever Brad Ziegler are considered reasonable, notes Slusser.

Currently, Willingham projects as a Type A free agent, DeJesus a B, and Crisp, Jackson, and Harden nothing. Arbitration offers are not certain for Willingham and DeJesus, either. With the five free agents making a combined $22.45MM in base salary this year, Beane could save over $7MM if he changes his mind and cleans house just for the savings.

 

[Tykoon14]

Looks like the boys found their bats now.... need to keep rolling on offense!

 

[NiNe2FiVe]

Moneyball has become a "period piece," Tom Verducci writes at SI.com. The advantages Billy Beane once had in Oakland have been neutralized by stadium revenue for other clubs and savvy front offices around baseball.

"The biggest problem we have is that until we get a stadium it's going to be treading water for us," Beane said. "There cannot be any long-term planning. It's likely to get worse before it gets any better. It's going to be more than challenging."

Fan-fuckin-tastic...