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.
Ben Durkee
Oakland will be great in 2015! Watch out AL west! lol
Ben Durkee
Sorry I meant San Jose A’s.
JacksTigers
I think you meant San Juan Atleticos.
PileOfSandwich 2
I think you meant the Rivercats!
Trent Norton
I was going to say San Jose, but I wanted to be nice!
Trent Norton
Poor A’s fans. 🙁
Chioakcisco
It’s painful, man.
Snoochies8
delete
oaklandfan22
Trade Bailey for a solid third base prospect beane!
Ben Durkee
As much as I would like the A’s to get Middlebrooks for Bailey, that probably would not happen.
oaklandfan22
how bout balfour and bailey that would work 2 solid relievers
BobMexico
Would the As be interested in Juan Fransico from the Reds? A huge power bat is something Oakland has been lacking for a while now…
Snoochies8
if his arbitration clock has already started, i don’t think beane would be too interested, not sure though
Marky
That last point is total BS. Beane just showed with the Gio deal that he is going for most talent, not organizational needs. If a team offers Beane a top 50 prospect for Bailey, he’s going to take it no matter whether its a pitcher or not.
Personally I hope Bailey brings back Middlebrooks from Boston. They have at least 3 other solid 3B prospects if you count Bogaerts, Cecchini & Coyle. Middlebrooks is a good prospect but Bailey makes the bullpen much better right now. You always make that deal if you are trying to win now. The Giants gave up Wheeler for 2 months of Beltran, it makes total sense Boston would give up Middlebrooks+ for several years of Bailey.
oaklandfan22
haha i still can’t believe that sf deal for beltran that turned out to be terrible for SF
vtadave
You didn’t see that turning out terrible the second it was made?
oaklandfan22
well i thought the giants may have had a chance with beltran
bayareabeast
i see you bought one of those crystal balls, how do they work again?
bayareabeast
i see you bought one of those crystal balls, how do they work again?
slider32
Bailey for Middlebrooks and Reddick makes sense to me. The Sox get their closer cheaper than Madson and the A’s get their 3b and OF prospects.
Ben Durkee
that would never happen
User 4245925809
“They have at least 3 other solid 3B prospects if you count Bogaerts, Cecchini & Coyle.”
They really have more than that. Vitek and Miles head played 3B before 2011, both are good prospects in the lower Sox system, Vitek the #1 pick in 2010 for them and Head has good power.
Wouldn’t really bother me for the Sox to move Middlebrooks to get something they could use in an some area, but not for any reliever and no disrespect intended there.
FacelessGeneralManager
The A’s are going to be a NASTY team of 26 and unders soon!
missyae
Kalish, Middlebrooks and another AAA guy for Bailey and Suzuki
Snoochies8
if you want suzuki, even with his value being so low, you’re gonna have to give up more than that, say, add in brentz or jacobs or lavarnway
User 4245925809
Catcher is another area Boston is not weak. I don’t see them moving Lavarnway, they just drafted swihart, already have Vazquez and still can count on Salty.
it would be a repetition move of something they already have with Suzuki IMO.
User 4245925809
Catcher is another area Boston is not weak. I don’t see them moving Lavarnway, they just drafted swihart, already have Vazquez and still can count on Salty.
it would be a repetition move of something they already have with Suzuki IMO.
oaklandfan22
i would actually like that, kalish and middlebrooks would be solid additions to the A’s
Snoochies8
we’d need more than that, someone like brandon jacobs or bryce brentz to make it worthwhile.
kurt suzuki’s value isn’t very high right now, but is certainly isn’t low enough for that package
JacksTigers
Keep Middlebrooks; drop Suzuki.
bigpat
So if they had a new stadium, he’d just put his AAA team on the field? Not the same strategy the Marlins are going with…
Snoochies8
the stadium wouldn’t be ready until around 2014/15, when most of the players he’s acquired will be starting to peak, then the offseason before the opening they might pull a marlins, but until then, yeah we’ll be fielding a AAA team
bayareabeast
They’ll be like the marlins of this year..their owners have deep pockets but are reluctant to spend because of their crappy stadium. Once they get their stadium, the owners will spend.
bayareabeast
They’ll be like the marlins of this year..their owners have deep pockets but are reluctant to spend because of their crappy stadium. Once they get their stadium, the owners will spend.
Snoochies8
Suzuki to the rays for tim beckham, chris archer, and drew vettleson? i have no idea what he could fetch but i just know that the rays need catching, and his value is low at the moment
vtadave
Doubt he fetches even two of those guys.
Ben Brown
A’s are seeking outfielders, yet DFA’d Miller….hmmm.
Snoochies8
outfielders that won’t K 170+ times in a season*** there, fixed
Randy
i think the A’s are going to make a few more trades bailey and suzuki will more and likely be traded to the rays i have also heard the A’s are interested in seth smith from the rockies one of our favorit trade partners they are looking for pitching and smith is cheap and under control until 2015 probably use him till are young outfilders are ready then trade him but i would like to get josh reddick from the redsox but who knows we will have to wait and see
Ben Durkee
Just a little addition to the thread, along with these young prospects that will be peaking when they open the stadium, ownership will be throwing money at FA that off season. It makes sense to finally spend bigger money then because you don’t have the crappy O.co anymore.
Ben Durkee
Just a little addition to the thread, along with these young prospects that will be peaking when they open the stadium, ownership will be throwing money at FA that off season. It makes sense to finally spend bigger money then because you don’t have the crappy O.co anymore.
VadaPinson
Can someone with some objective reasons and know how….tell me why the Giants are so hell bent on not letting the A’s move to San Jose? Are the Giants really going to lose that much money and or fans by them doing that?
¯_(ツ)_/¯
Basically, they’re setting up expectations for when the team isn’t competitive in a couple of years (or next year) and they want to be able to blame the A’s and MLB for ruining their revenue stream.
They won’t lose much, if anything, by letting the A’s move to San Jose.
but, they will lose plenty of revenue if they can’t retain Lincecum and Cain and end up the 4th place team in the NL West again in 2014. They just want to be able to blame it on someone other than Sabean’s inability to make a quality trade or retain top notch free agents.
And it’ll probably work out to at least get people to feel sorry for a billionaire owner who “loses money” on a 120M payroll in the 5th largest media market in the country.
VadaPinson
Good stuff. I wish the A’s and MLB would just come out with a report showing how little it would affect them…..and have done with it.
At least it will expose the owner,…..as you say it should for being unable to sustain himself in the 5th largest media market.