Strange (and not as strange) News....

by Tom Dakers on Nov 11, 2008 12:48 AM EST in News Comment 13 comments

The A's apparently acquired Matt Holliday from the Colorado Rockies for Hudson Street, outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and left handed pitcher Greg Smith. I really don't understand it, just a few months ago the A's were sellers in the trade market even though the team was at the top of the AL West. Now they are buyers? Holliday only has one year left on his contract before becoming a free agent. Do the A's think they can sign him? Oh well, it makes things interesting.

11.11.2008: 7 am Update: Hugo - Just to add a little, the Nationals also swung a big deal, trading infield prospect Emilio Bonifacio and minor leaguers PJ Dean (RHP) and Jake Smolinski (IF) to the Marlins for Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham. A great deal for the Nats, as Olsen and Willingham immediately become their best pitcher and hitter. Bonifacio looks like a capable leadoff hitter and second baseman for a major-league team, and I guess this means the Marlins will be looking to trade Dan Uggla since Bonifacio hasn't played any SS and likely won't hit enough to play elsewhere. I'm a little annoyed with this deal since the Jays could definitely use two effective and reasonably priced players like Willingham and Olsen. Willingham could be a lefty-mashing DH and fill in at outfield and perhaps even catcher, while the Jays could certainly use Olsen's arm notwithstanding his lousy year last season. The Marlins couldn't have preferred trading the two within the division (even to the lowly Nats), so you're telling me that the Jays couldn't put together a better offer?

Also, Cuban star third-baseman Dayan Viciedo has become a free agent and will likely sign with an MLB team soon. Major league teams are very high on the 19-year old Viciedo - I'm not sure why he wasn't/isn't in the amateur draft, but clearly his agent deserves a raise. Viciedo would be an interesting signing for the Jays, who don't look as weak at third base now organizationally with Emaus and Campbell both getting playing time at third in addition to Ahrens. I always wonder why the Jays don't have a leg up on the Cuban free agents considering the better relationship that the Canadian government has (as compared to the U.S. at least) with Cuba.

Happy Veterans Day to all Statesiders and, as Bunner points out, Happy Rememberance Day to all Canadians!!

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Oakland likes

trading for guys a year away from free agency. When they leave, they get the draft picks since Holliday is likely to go to a good team.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Nov 11, 2008 6:53 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

just to be clear,

I don’t mean to suggest that Oakland didn’t give up too much in the deal (they did, I think, though it may not look like it this season as Greg Smith isn’t really a good fit for Colorado and Carlos Gonzalez needs more time in the minors), just give a possible motivation for Oakland wanting to make the deal in the first place.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Nov 11, 2008 7:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

alternatively

if the A’s aren’t any good again, they could always move Holliday at the trade deadline and likely get something pretty useful back

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Nov 11, 2008 8:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Heard...

The As are also looking at brining Giambi back, but with Smith out of the rotation and Street out of the bullpen I think they’d need to look at pitching it they are planning to compete this year.

by bunner on Nov 11, 2008 10:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't they give the closer job over to Brad Ziegler last year?

I don’t see losing Street as a big deal, Bean tends to trade closers off. And they do have a bunch of starter prospects.But I don’t see trading the 3 of them for one year of Holliday.

You have to like the National’s trade for the Nationals though the Nationals seem to be stock piling former outfield prospects that didn’t pan out.

by Tom Dakers on Nov 11, 2008 10:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

with

the demand for closers high i think Beane coulda have dealt Street on his own for a good return

by bunner on Nov 11, 2008 1:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Willingham

has OPS+ed 118, 121, and 115 over the past three seasons. That’s not so bad if you ask me, I’d rather have him than Jacobs, by a long shot

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Nov 11, 2008 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh ok

Didn’t think Willingham was that good. Got me to look now, and yeah he is better than anyone the Nationals have.

by Tom Dakers on Nov 11, 2008 2:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Except doesn't he have back troubles?

Then again, so does Furcal, and we’re named as suitors for him.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Nov 11, 2008 3:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i dont think they gave up too much

greg smith is kind of really bad and street has health issues. gonzalez could be good but was terrible last year (thought i guess fielding metrics say he is an excellent outfielder). holliday is a proven stud who will lose numbers going from Coors to Oakland, but should still improve the a’s quite a bit.

also, the al-west should be pretty weak this year (depending on whether or not the angels can resign teixeira). they way overplayed their pythagorean record this year and i think the a’s have a shot at competing if they can add someone else good. i think 88-92 wins probably does it.

"The NY Mets are my favorite squadron" --Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

by jessef on Nov 11, 2008 11:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

by the usual trade metric

the A’s got the best player in the deal by far, so they should win. Street’s not a bad closer, but closers are a little expendable. It’s not inconceivable that even if the A’s don’t do well this season, they could flip Holliday to a contending team and get more than Smith/Gonzalez/Street. If not, they always have the picks.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Nov 12, 2008 6:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs