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Oakland A's offseason thread (1 Viewer)

Dr. Awesome

Footballguy
Might as well get this thing under way.

They've exercised the contracts on Ellis and Crisp, and have finally cut ties with Chavez.

They've won the rights to Hisashi Iwakuma...outbidding Seattle and Texas.

With a rotation of Trevor Cahill, Bret Anderson, Gio Gonzalez, Dallas Braden, and whoever (Mazzaro, Outman, Iwakuma, or whoever else), this has the potential to be the best rotation in baseball.

I was hoping this team would finish with around 85 wins last year but a record of 81-81 still should be considered a success.

We need a bat. Badly. Our best hitter smacked 284. Our best slugger hit 16 home runs. With all the arms we have stockpiled it looks like Beane is loading up for a possible trade. Barring that, we have some money to spend, but no free agent is going to make this stadium a priority.

I think our biggest needs are first base, outfielder, and DH. Werth would be pretty sweet - it would give us quite the upgrade and it would still give us the arms to make another deal if needed.

 
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Their pythagorean W-L was 85-77 so they did underperform by that measure. The pitching looks solid but the offense looks weak even to a Giants fan. They sure could use Carlos Gonzalez or Nelson Cruz right now. Barring that, either Chris Carter or Michael Taylor needs to come on but neither showed anything special in AAA this year.

I don't see them breaking the bank for Werth, which is probably a good thing.

 
Welcome aboard, David DeJesus! And goodbye Vin Mazzaro.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- David DeJesus has been on the Oakland Athletics' radar for a while now. They like his near-perfect defense, baserunning and consistent bat.

The A's acquired the outfielder from the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday for right-hander Vin Mazzaro and minor-league lefty Justin Marks. General manager Billy Beane immediately said he will start in one of the corner outfield spots.

"He's a guy we've always liked," Beane said. "He's been a well-respected guy and does everything very well. I think he's just another good player to add to the mix of players out there."

One of Beane's priorities this offseason was to find a capable hitter who could help the A's score more runs for their talented pitching staff.

DeJesus, while not the power hitter Oakland is seeking, batted .318 with five homers and 37 RBI in 91 games with Kansas City this year. He was sidelined for the final two months following right thumb surgery.

Beane said the A's researched his surgery and physical therapy information and are confident DeJesus will have no restrictions this winter getting ready for spring training. A left-handed hitter, DeJesus had resumed taking batting practice late in the season.

The 30-year-old DeJesus -- who started 67 games in right field, 19 in center and one in left -- didn't have an error in 88 games overall in the outfield. He has a 241-game errorless streak dating to his last one on Sept. 15, 2008.

While Ryan Sweeney played right field when healthy, Beane said the A's would discuss whether to keep him there or move him to left and have DeJesus play right.

What does this mean for the other outfielders on the roster -- such as Conor Jackson and Rajai Davis? Beane said with the team's injury history in recent seasons, he doesn't plan to unload everybody.

"We are a little bit gun shy because of the injuries. We have to be careful," he said.

Mazzaro had three stints with the A's in 2010. He was sent down to Triple-A Sacramento on Sept. 10 only to be called back up four days later. Oakland already has solid, proven starters in Brett Anderson, Dallas Braden, Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez. Ben Sheets, signed to a $10 million, one-year deal before last season, won't pitch in 2011 following elbow surgery but hasn't ruled out trying to return to baseball the next year.

Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma could fit into that fifth starter spot. Oakland won a bid for negotiating rights to the pitcher from the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Pacific League, Major League Baseball announced Monday.

The A's then have 30 days to reach a contract agreement.

"We think we have a little bit of depth," Beane said. "Hopefully the negotiations with Iwakuma are successful and we should be in pretty good shape."

The 29-year-old righty was 10-9 with a 2.82 ERA in 28 games this season with four complete games and one shutout. He struck out 153 and walked 36 in 201 innings.

Left-hander Josh Outman, who missed last year recovering from Tommy John surgery, also could be an option to start. He made a good impression in the instructional league this fall.

The A's stayed in the division chase until late in the season -- losing out to the AL champion Texas Rangers -- and finished 81-81 for second place in the AL West. That was despite using the disabled list 23 times, two shy of the franchise record set in 2008. Oakland fired head athletic trainer Steve Sayles, so finding his replacement is also on the to-do list. Beane said the A's would begin interviewing candidates next week.

Kansas City general manager Dayton Moore said Mazzaro will be in the team's rotation next season. The 24-year-old right-hander went 6-8 with a 4.27 ERA in 24 appearances, including 18 starts, last season. When Anderson was sidelined with an elbow injury, Mazzaro moved into the rotation June 8 and made 17 consecutive starts.

"This deal allows us to further increase our pitching depth at the major and minor league levels," Moore said. "Vin Mazzaro fits into our rotation for next season while Justin Marks is a young left-hander who we see starting 2011 at [Class A] Wilmington."

 
Great deal for the A's.

Starting to understand that defense is a pretty big deal in baseball.

 
The Oakland Athletics claimed third-baseman Edwin Encarnacion off waivers, ending his tenure in a Toronto uniform, the Blue Jays announced Friday.

Encarnacion hit .244 with 21 homers and 51 RBIs in 96 games last season. The 27-year-old came to Toronto in the deal that sent Scott Rolen to the Cincinnati Reds in 2009.

Left-hander Brian Tallet and outfielder Dewayne Wise have opted to hit the free-agent pool, declining Toronto's assignment to triple-A Las Vegas.

Tallet went 2-6 in 2010, mostly in a relief role, and had a 6.40 ERA with 38 walks and 53 strikeouts.

Wise hit .250 in 52 games for the Jays last season, with 14 RBIs.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/story/20...l#ixzz156ocAVR5

 
The Oakland Athletics claimed third-baseman Edwin Encarnacion off waivers, ending his tenure in a Toronto uniform, the Blue Jays announced Friday.

Encarnacion hit .244 with 21 homers and 51 RBIs in 96 games last season. The 27-year-old came to Toronto in the deal that sent Scott Rolen to the Cincinnati Reds in 2009.

Left-hander Brian Tallet and outfielder Dewayne Wise have opted to hit the free-agent pool, declining Toronto's assignment to triple-A Las Vegas.

Tallet went 2-6 in 2010, mostly in a relief role, and had a 6.40 ERA with 38 walks and 53 strikeouts.

Wise hit .250 in 52 games for the Jays last season, with 14 RBIs.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/story/20...l#ixzz156ocAVR5
I dunno. Maybe they cut ties with Cust and roll with E5 at DH?
 
Cust will likely not return. His power has dropped each year and without that he's borderline worthless.
Cust put up a .272/.395/.438 line last year :no:
Big pile of meh. Mediocre bat and awful defense? It's time to try something new.
Edwin Encarnacion is not the answer
Neither is Cust. Hopefully we'll be able to work something out with our current glut of pitchers and outfielders.
 
The A's last week jump-started the Hot Stove season by moving quickly in directions unforeseen. As a result, they're suddenly -- and surprisingly -- equipped with an additional outfielder and an extra third baseman. Oh, and they're in the process of negotiating with a starting pitcher.

Yet none of these moves -- involving David DeJesus, Edwin Encarnacion and Hisashi Iwakuma, respectively -- fit the blueprint for an offseason map many assumed would be drawn out in Oakland this winter. This is a team loaded with glamorous pitching and defense, seemingly lacking nothing more than a couple big bats, after all. So has general manager Billy Beane simply started a game of dominoes?

When the A's won bidding rights to negotiate with Iwakuma, a righty from Japan, the thought was that the hurler would lend the team a surplus of pitching that would allow it flexibility when trading for a needed power bat. Two days later, the A's shipped some of that pitching (Vin Mazzaro and Justin Marks) for DeJesus, who is a quality outfielder but lacks that mentioned power.

Fast-forward another two days, and the A's decided to pick up Encarnacion off waivers from Toronto. He surely can hit, but his glove is susceptible to error, and his presence means above-average defender Kevin Kouzmanoff's status is in limbo. There's a chance Encarnacion could DH or at least share those duties with a player to be named later, but there's also a chance Oakland is just a pit stop for him this winter.

The same can be said of DeJesus, as both new acquisitions could merely represent nothing more than upgraded trade bait and subsequently be flipped. So what does this all mean for the A's? Offseason maneuvering has just begun, and it's far from done.

Beane is set to add run producers, and it's a safe bet he'll be chatting up trade possibilities and ponder free-agent signings with his peers at the annual General Managers Meetings in Orlando this week in an effort to do so. The A's GM has a long-standing policy of not discussing free agents, but it's no secret there are a handful that would be attractive to the A's. Here's a look at possible targets:

Lance Berkman, DH: Berkman's name has already been linked to the A's, who are on the hunt for a productive DH. He's a switch-hitter with obvious power, and he's expected to come at a reasonable price. But he's also shown struggles from the right side in recent years and has battled consistency. The A's won't be able to be as picky as high-earning teams, meaning Berkman may be a real possibility. But can he bounce back from a forgettable 2010 season?

Hideki Matsui, DH: Matsui will be advertised as is -- a veteran who can help a team in need of a left-handed DH with power. He's a selective hitter who can still drive in runs with the best of 'em, and he can also play some left field if need be. Sounds like an upgrade to Jack Cust, which wouldn't be a bad thing for this team. Iwakuma's pending presence could also help lure him to Oakland.

Vladimir Guerrero, DH: How sweet it would be if Guerrero decided to continue his tour with the American League West in Oakland next year? He proved last season he still represents a true power threat, and the A's would gladly put his bat to use. But Texas wants him back, and it's hard to imagine either party going in a different direction.

Adam Dunn, 1B/DH: Dunn would prefer to play first base or even the outfield, but his shaky defense would likely lead the A's to use him in the DH spot and keep Daric Barton on the bag. Then again, if the A's are given any shot with Dunn, who is expected to get several hefty offers, they'd have to at least entertain the idea of playing him on the field. Money talks, and the A's might not have enough of it for this one.

Adrian Beltre, 3B: Never mind that the A's attempts at bringing Beltre to Oakland failed last year. Expect them to try again, even if nearly a dozen other teams will be making bids as well. Beltre, with help from another bat -- likely in the DH form -- has the power, by many definitions, to help the A's become a serious contender. He's pricey but considered to be worth every penny.

Outfielder Jayson Werth and first baseman Paul Konerko are also dreamy options, but considering each player's wish list of years and salaries, both fall under the long-shot category. Nevertheless, stay tuned.

Jane Lee is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, Major Lee-ague, and follow her on Twitter @JaneMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

 
Please no Berkman. I'd rather resign Cust. Matsui seems like a fairly likely bet for Oakland to pursue...they've mentioned him in a few rumors this offseason. Vladdy and Dunn won't come to Oakland as we won't have the $$ to match the big players. If we couldn't land Beltre last season I can't imagine any way we'll get him this time around.

 
ORLANDO-The Toronto Blue Jays acquired outfielder Rajai Davis from the Oakland A's on Wednesday for pitchers Tystan Magnuson and Daniel Farquhar.

The A's needed to move an outfielder after trading for center fielder David DeJesus from Kansas City last week.

Davis, who stole 50 bases last season, is expected to start in right field for Toronto while Jose Bautista and his 54 homers moves to third base

 
There are two reports out indicating the Oakland Athletics have offered third baseman Adrian Beltre a five-year contract. ESPN’s Enrique Rojas tweeted the offer was for $64 million while NESN earlier reported it was an offer for $45 million. If either is correct this would be a monster financial move by the Oakland A’s.

The market for Adrian Beltre is fairly sizable, which isn’t shocking considering he is coming off a season in which he hit .321 with 28 home runs and 102 RBIs, all while continuing his solid play at third base. If the A’s did go with a $64 million offer it might be because they feel they need to put up a huge number early to keep out other bidders. NESN’s report indicated the Red Sox would go as high as $52 million over four years. That would be $200,000 more per year than the Athletics offer, but the A’s offer includes the security of a fifth year and more total money. Adrian Beltre is 32 years old and by the end of the Red Sox offer it’s doubtful he could make up the $12 million difference from the A’s fifth year.

While I would certainly be intrigued by the addition of Beltre, he is a player whose performance raises a very specific concerns. The two biggest seasons of his career came in walk years. This past season he was working on a one-year deal with the Red Sox. His other monster season came in 2004 when he was in the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He hit .334 with 48 home runs and 121 RBIs. It’s interesting to note that his only two seasons of hitting over .300 came in those walk years. His third walk year with Seattle in 2009 was a struggle in part because of injuries.

 
4:58pm: Slusser writes that the figure Iwakuma was said to be seeking was including the posting fee. She also notes that Iwakuma wasn't looking for the same number of years as Zito, just the same annual salary. Oakland, on the other hand, was thinking somewhere along the lines of a $3MM-$5MM salary.The A's are also looking for a power hitter, and one thought was that signing Iwakuma could have made Oakland a more appealing destination for Hideki Matsui.Slusser says she recently spoke with a scout who saw Iwakuma pitch in Japan, and described the 29-year-old as "Nothing special. Just a guy." With Iwakuma presumably out of the picture, Slusser says a healthy Outman would be the frontrunner for the fifth starter job. The 26-year-old lefty was having a strong season in 2009 before he underwent Tommy John surgery and missed all of 2010.3:38pm: The Athletics have broken off talks with Hisashi Iwakuma, according to this series of tweets from Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.While the A's will have until December 7 to make a decision on Iwakuma, Slusser's sources have told her that Iwakuma was seeking something similar to Barry Zito's seven-year, $126MM contract with the Giants to sign in Oakland, which the A's are obviously unwilling to do. Iwakuma is preparing to announce his return to the Rakuten Golden Eagles at an upcoming fan fest.If Iwakuma's demands don't come down, the A's will be down one fifth starter option, having traded Vin Mazzaro to Kansas City in exchange for David DeJesus. Slusser says the A's will then approach the season with Josh Outman, Tyson Ross, and Bobby Cramer as fifth starter candidates, barring a free agent signing of course.It's not unthinkable that the A's would venture to free agency to find a suitable replacement; they clearly have the money to spend on pitching should they see fit. Oakland bid around $17MM to win the rights to negotiate with Iwakuma, but that amount will be returned if no deal is reached.
 
Talks between the Athletics and Hisashi Iwakuma broke off on Saturday, and his agent Don Nomura has taken to Twitter to explain why.Nomura says the A's offered a four-year, $15.25MM deal, for an average of $3.8125MM per year. The team was using Kei Igawa (five years, $20MM) and Colby Lewis (two years, $5MM) as comparables, while Nomura countered with Hiroki Kuroda (three years, $35.3MM) and Daisuke Matsuzaka (six years, $52MM). The A's pointed to their $19.1MM posting fee, but Nomura wanted to keep the pitcher's contract separate (presumably since Iwakuma wouldn't see any of the posting fee money). Nomura remains open to a deal since the sides have until December 8th, though he suggests the A's are now "hunting two free agent pitchers." He finished by noting that the team's offer to Adrian Beltre "was just a PR" move.Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle broke the story yesterday; her blog post was updated with similar information prior to Nomura's barrage of tweets. Her source pegs the posting fee at $18MM. In either case, Iwakuma would have cost the A's over $8MM a year. In my opinion, that commitment was already plenty risky.
 
The Athletics, Astros, Diamondbacks, Brewers, Padres, Mariners, and Tigers are among the teams interested in free agent righty Brandon McCarthy, writes Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. The Rangers acquired McCarthy four years ago mainly for John Danks and Nick Masset in what I described at the time as an offer Kenny Williams couldn't refuse. McCarthy's Rangers career was ruined by injuries, and he was outrighted and elected free agency earlier this month.Morosi notes that McCarthy has thrown well in the Dominican Winter League, and teams have been scouting him heavily. McCarthy has a history of shoulder injuries, but Morosi says he's subject to a "buy-low frenzy." Since the 6'7" righty has less than five years of big league service time, he could be controlled by his new team through 2012 as an arbitration eligible player.McCarthy, 27, posted a 3.36 ERA, 7.0 K/9, 1.8 BB/9, and 1.3 HR/9 in 56 1/3 Triple-A innings this year. He tossed 119 innings between the Majors and minors in 2009.
 
There are no rumors on this but I would love to see Oakland go after Upton if the DBacks are really shopping him. He might be too expensive to acquire but he's locked up for 5 or 6 years more, has a good glove, some speed, and a solid bat with very good power.

Please Beane see if you can make this happen.

 
Iwakuma seems to be out of his gourd if he thinks he's worth 8-10 million per year. And he's certifiable if he's asking Barry Zito money.

 
Free-agent 1B Lance Berkman (Yankees) still thinks he can play first base and the outfield for a team, according to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. "A lot of people have asked me, 'Do you still want to play the field?' My answer is that not only can I play the field, I still can run around the outfield. I'm not a DH-slash-first baseman. I'm a first baseman-slash-outfielder," Berkman said. He is receiving interest from as many as eight teams, with the Oakland Athletics the most aggressive. The Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies have also shown interest. Berkman would prefer a return to the National League.
Berkman is saying Oakland has been the most aggressive team to chase after him. Meh.
 
Free-agent 1B Lance Berkman (Yankees) still thinks he can play first base and the outfield for a team, according to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. "A lot of people have asked me, 'Do you still want to play the field?' My answer is that not only can I play the field, I still can run around the outfield. I'm not a DH-slash-first baseman. I'm a first baseman-slash-outfielder," Berkman said. He is receiving interest from as many as eight teams, with the Oakland Athletics the most aggressive. The Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies have also shown interest. Berkman would prefer a return to the National League.
Berkman is saying Oakland has been the most aggressive team to chase after him. Meh.
He'd be fine as a DH against righties, but Barton's better in the field at 1B and I don't see him cracking an OF spot at his age.
 
Oakland Athletics: Top 10 Prospects1. Michael Choice / OF / Choice was the best four-year college hitter in the 2010 draft. He has superstar power potential in his bat, but also the tools to excel as an overall hitter. On top of his bat, he has usable speed and the ability to be a good defender from a corner outfield position.2. Grant Green / SS / Green had some ups and downs in his debut season. His power and batting average stand out from the crowd, but his strikeout and walk rates will not cut it, and his defense has come into question, although, defensively, he should turn into an average major league shortstop.3. Chris Carter / 1B/OF / It has become clear that strikeouts will always be a problem for Carter. Couple that fact with his all-or-nothing swing, and you are looking at some ugly batting averages, too. But his power is real and will provide Oakland with a much-needed long ball boost.4. Jemile Weeks / 2B / Weeks has a rare skill set for a second baseman, and has even demonstrated the intangibles at the plate to be a patient, well-rounded hitter, but injuries are taking over his young career.5. Ian Krol / SP / Despite his youth, Krol doesn't have a lot of upside due to his small frame and below-average fastball. What he does have is great command and deceptive movement on an average three-pitch mix.6. Corey Brown / OF / Brown has a nice blend of power and speed. He is a solid defender, and his walk rate seems to get better each year, too. But his strikeout rate is worrisome, and he looked lost at times against Triple-A pitching last year.7. Max Stassi / C / Stassi is a solid defender, no question, but probably not the difference maker some were hoping for when he was drafted. On the flip side, the power potential those same people were also hoping for has surfaced, giving his offense a glimmer of light that wasn't apparent when he was drafted.8. Josh Donaldson / C / Donaldson knows how to take walks and has plenty of power, but whether or not he has what it takes elsewhere to stick at catcher remains to be seen.9. Adrian Cardenas / 2B / Cardenas manages to hit for a good average wherever he goes. He limits his strikeouts and takes his share of walks. But the power numbers everyone was hoping for are nowhere to be found, and his stolen base rate and success percentage have dissipated.10. Michael Taylor / OF / What happened to Taylor? Two things are clear; he loses his swing at times, and his pitch recognition is poor. His swing looks long and slow sometimes, which has sapped his power. Don't forget about him, though. He will have opportunities to turn it around.
 
The Athletics have signed outfielder Ryan Sweeney to a one-year contract, reports MLB.com's Evan Drellich. The deal will pay Sweeney $1.4MM in 2011, according to the Associated Press. Sweeney was one of seven players tendered contracts by Oakland yesterday, and the signing means the club avoids arbitration with the 25-year-old. Sweeney is represented by agent Larry Reynolds.Sweeney hit .294/.342/.383 in 331 plate appearances with the A's in 2010, though he didn't play after July 11 due to a right knee injury that eventually required surgery. Since coming to Oakland as part of the Nick Swisher trade in January 2008, Sweeney has a .740 OPS in 1298 plate appearances and has played all three outfield positions, though he mostly stuck to right field last year. Sweeney made $420K with the A's last season and this would've been his first year of arbitration eligibility.
 
Iwakuma is returning to Japan after being unable to work out a deal with Oakland. And Oakland has rescinded its offer to Adrian Beltre. It's clear he does not want to come to the A's.

:thumbup:

 
Iwakuma is returning to Japan after being unable to work out a deal with Oakland. And Oakland has rescinded its offer to Adrian Beltre. It's clear he does not want to come to the A's. :shrug:
The posting system for Japanese players is just weird. You'd think bargaining rights would revert to the next highest bidder but instead Iwakuma apparently will return to Japan and become a MLB free agent after next year. Oh well, at least Beane blocked Iwakuma from the Mariners.In light of the Werth and Gonzalez deals, I doubt Oakland's offer was in the ballpark of what Beltre will eventually sign for.I doubt Beane will return from Orlando empty handed.
 
Iwakuma is returning to Japan after being unable to work out a deal with Oakland. And Oakland has rescinded its offer to Adrian Beltre. It's clear he does not want to come to the A's.

:kicksrock:
The posting system for Japanese players is just weird. You'd think bargaining rights would revert to the next highest bidder but instead Iwakuma apparently will return to Japan and become a MLB free agent after next year. Oh well, at least Beane blocked Iwakuma from the Mariners.In light of the Werth and Gonzalez deals, I doubt Oakland's offer was in the ballpark of what Beltre will eventually sign for.

I doubt Beane will return from Orlando empty handed.
:lmao: That whole situation with Iwakuma had rooster-block written all over it, esp with both Seattle and Texas interested.

 
Oakland Athletics: Top 10 Prospects1. Michael Choice / OF / Choice was the best four-year college hitter in the 2010 draft. He has superstar power potential in his bat, but also the tools to excel as an overall hitter. On top of his bat, he has usable speed and the ability to be a good defender from a corner outfield position.2. Grant Green / SS / Green had some ups and downs in his debut season. His power and batting average stand out from the crowd, but his strikeout and walk rates will not cut it, and his defense has come into question, although, defensively, he should turn into an average major league shortstop.3. Chris Carter / 1B/OF / It has become clear that strikeouts will always be a problem for Carter. Couple that fact with his all-or-nothing swing, and you are looking at some ugly batting averages, too. But his power is real and will provide Oakland with a much-needed long ball boost.4. Jemile Weeks / 2B / Weeks has a rare skill set for a second baseman, and has even demonstrated the intangibles at the plate to be a patient, well-rounded hitter, but injuries are taking over his young career.5. Ian Krol / SP / Despite his youth, Krol doesn't have a lot of upside due to his small frame and below-average fastball. What he does have is great command and deceptive movement on an average three-pitch mix.6. Corey Brown / OF / Brown has a nice blend of power and speed. He is a solid defender, and his walk rate seems to get better each year, too. But his strikeout rate is worrisome, and he looked lost at times against Triple-A pitching last year.7. Max Stassi / C / Stassi is a solid defender, no question, but probably not the difference maker some were hoping for when he was drafted. On the flip side, the power potential those same people were also hoping for has surfaced, giving his offense a glimmer of light that wasn't apparent when he was drafted.8. Josh Donaldson / C / Donaldson knows how to take walks and has plenty of power, but whether or not he has what it takes elsewhere to stick at catcher remains to be seen.9. Adrian Cardenas / 2B / Cardenas manages to hit for a good average wherever he goes. He limits his strikeouts and takes his share of walks. But the power numbers everyone was hoping for are nowhere to be found, and his stolen base rate and success percentage have dissipated.10. Michael Taylor / OF / What happened to Taylor? Two things are clear; he loses his swing at times, and his pitch recognition is poor. His swing looks long and slow sometimes, which has sapped his power. Don't forget about him, though. He will have opportunities to turn it around.
Taylor is about to turn 25. I'd probably forget about him.
 
Boras claims Beltre is still interested in Oakland. There are reports Hideki Matsui will sign with the A's as early as today.

 
Yeah, it's very clear Beltre has zero interest in Oakland. I just hope Beane doesn't think Godzilla will be enough to fill the power department. He's a nice start, but they need at least one other guy who can smack 30ish homeruns.

 
It's all but official now...reports are flying in from all over that Godzilla has indeed signed with Oakland pending a physical tomorrow morning. The press conference is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.

No word on the $$, but it's being speculated 1 year for around 7 million.

 
1 million for McCarthy though he can double that with incentives.

Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill, Dallas Braden, and Josh Outman or Brandon McCarthy as the #5? It's not as good as the Phillies but this should be amongst the best rotations in baseball.

Hideki Matsui signed a 1 year deal for about 6 million. I think that's a great deal. I'm much happier with him than I would have been with Berkman.

 
1 million for McCarthy though he can double that with incentives. Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill, Dallas Braden, and Josh Outman or Brandon McCarthy as the #5? It's not as good as the Phillies but this should be amongst the best rotations in baseball. Hideki Matsui signed a 1 year deal for about 6 million. I think that's a great deal. I'm much happier with him than I would have been with Berkman.
McCarthy for a million is a pretty good signing. The change of ballpark and the A's OF defense will help him. The question mark is his health. If nothing else, he can replace Duchscherer on the DL.
 
I like both deals for the A's.

McCarthy for 1 mil for 1 year is a great low risk, high reward contract.

And Matsui is the same. His knees are being held together by duct tape and rubber bands, but he should be a solid DH for the A's.

 
SENDAI, Japan -- The agent for Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma says the Oakland Athletics were insincere after his client was unable to reach an agreement with the major league team.

Don Nomura said because Iwakuma could become a free agent next year, Oakland did not appear to be that bothered whether a deal could be reached or not.

"They knew he was just one year away from free agency, and they never showed any respect," Nomura said Wednesday, a day after the Athletics announced they were unable to reach an agreement to sign the Japanese pitcher during the exclusive 30-day negotiating period.

Oakland won the negotiating rights to the 29-year-old right-hander in early November under the bidding treaty between Major League Baseball and the Japanese commissioner's office.

Iwakuma will return to his Japanese team next season while Oakland gets back the $19.1 million posting fee they paid to negotiate with the player.

The pitcher wanted a total package comparable to the $126 million, seven-year deal signed by San Francisco left-hander Barry Zito before the 2007 season when the 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner left the A's for the other side of the bay.

Japanese media had reported that Oakland made a four-year proposal worth $15.25 million. In terms of annual salary, it is equal to what Iwakuma made with the Eagles of Japan's Pacific League.

"Their offer was low and they weren't sincere," Nomura said.
Yeah, because they wouldn't offer an absurd contract that means they were insincere. :unsure: Though I honestly believe Oakland didn't care too much if they actually signed him or not and this move was as much of a block as anything.

 
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OAKLAND, Calif. -- It appears right-hander Rich Harden is returning to his Oakland roots.Harden has agreed to terms on a one-year contract to rejoin the Athletics. A person with knowledge of the deal confirmed Wednesday to The Associated Press that Harden was coming back to the A's. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because Harden must take a physical - and he has had his share of injury problems - before a formal announcement is made. The A's may announce the deal by the end of the week.Harden went 5-5 with a 5.58 ERA in 20 appearances and 18 starts last season for the AL champion Texas Rangers. But he was designated for assignment after the regular season to give him his unconditional release after he struggled with injuries and control.Harden, who began the season as the Rangers' No. 2 starter, walked 62 batters in 92 innings. He is expected to be used out of the bullpen by A's manager Bob Geren, who has a formidable starting rotation heading into 2011: Brett Anderson, Dallas Braden, Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez.Oakland had penciled in Hisashi Iwakuma as a possible fifth starter but last week failed to reach agreement with the Japanese right-hander during the allotted 30-day negotiating period, sending him back to his Japanese club.The No. 5 spot could go to several candidates, including Bobby Cramer, Tyson Ross or left-hander Josh Outman, who missed last year recovering from Tommy John surgery but made a strong impression in the instructional league this fall.The A's must hope Harden stays healthy by assuming a relief role.Harden spent two stints on the disabled list in 2010, first from June 12-July 30 with a left gluteal muscle strain and later with right shoulder tendinitis.Oakland saw him miss his share of time, too.Harden went 1-2 with a 2.45 ERA in only 25 2-3 innings in 2007 because of an inflamed right shoulder, and didn't pitch after July 7 that year. He threw two simulated games late in the season with the hopes of making two final starts, but ultimately decided it wasn't worth risking further injury.He was 4-0 in nine games in 2006, spending time on the disabled list with a strained back and then a strained elbow ligament.
 
Starting to get pretty excited. It's the beginning of the 2-3 year window we've been waiting for with this young rotation.

Question is - do they go for it at some point and make a play for a major bat?

 
Starting to get pretty excited. It's the beginning of the 2-3 year window we've been waiting for with this young rotation.Question is - do they go for it at some point and make a play for a major bat?
1 - I'm excited as well. I know spring time every team thinks they have a chance...but I really think this team has a chance. 2 - I think they HAVE to trade for a bat. Unless they think the farm system will deliver or last year's crew can start slugging, they need some more power. Badly. I like the signing of Matsui but will be bothered if that's all they do. There's really nobody left that is a must sign. But I'd still expect Beane to trade for someone. He's clearly making defense a priority (most positions could challenge for a gold glove) but you can't win *every* game 2-1. It's fun to dream they'd trade for Fielder/Kemp/Upton but in reality it will probably be another low level guy. But I'm right there with you - this is near the beginning of our window.
 
Starting to get pretty excited. It's the beginning of the 2-3 year window we've been waiting for with this young rotation.Question is - do they go for it at some point and make a play for a major bat?
Not sure if Beane still has a bitter taste for the Matt Holliday experiment, but I think they are a perfect landing spot for Prince Fielder. They have the pitching to give up. And Daric Barton. Could probably get him without having to give up Cahill or Anderson because Fielder is close to free agency.
 
Starting to get pretty excited. It's the beginning of the 2-3 year window we've been waiting for with this young rotation.Question is - do they go for it at some point and make a play for a major bat?
Not sure if Beane still has a bitter taste for the Matt Holliday experiment, but I think they are a perfect landing spot for Prince Fielder. They have the pitching to give up. And Daric Barton. Could probably get him without having to give up Cahill or Anderson because Fielder is close to free agency.
AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHA's in "serious" talks with OBP-superstar Josh Willingham, BTW.
 

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