The first significant trade went down Monday, as the A's sent Jason Kendall to the Cubs for a minor league pitcher and backup catcher, former Twin, Rob Bowen.
Apparently losing four straight to a so-far mediocre Twins team was enough for Billy Beane to decide that his A's don't have another big second half run in them, and the fire sale is on.
Well, maybe fire sale is a strong choice of words, but there a few other players the A's could be looking to move, and the Twins could be in play for them.
*Shannon Stewart
Yes, we all thought Stewie was set to retire after spending another season wasting away on the DL, but he has, somewhat miraculously, been one of the A's best offensive players this year, hitting over .300 with 7 homers and 8 steals. He's stayed healthy all year.
That might make it seem like Stewie would be a great, no-risk addition, and it could work.
But my guess is that a big reason Stewart has been healthy this year is that he hasn't had to play any games (except the few at the Metrodome and Tropicana) on turf. His injury problems have always been foot and leg related, and playing on grass for most of his games is probably a big reason he's been able to stay healthy.
If the A's were willing to give him away for virtually nothing, he could still be a good fit at DH, but I'd be surprised.
*Mike Piazza
A rather serious shoulder injury has sidelined Piazza for most of the year (he's now ready to go), and while that makes him a big question mark at catcher, where the Twins wouldn't need him anyway, reports are that his bat should be OK.
The Twins flirted with Piazza a year ago, settling for RonDL White while Piazza signed with San Diego, so they might be interested. Reports are that the A's would be willing to eat some of his salary, of which $3.8 million remains this year.
*Dan Johnson
I only mention him because so many fans keep bringing him up. Won't happen. He's under contract, he's not arbitration eligible, and he's a lefthand hitting first basemen. We have one of those.
Yeah, he could DH, but both Piazza and Stewart are more likely, and make more sense.
Don't know that the odds are great on any of these, but the Kendall deal at least shows that the A's are a willing seller.
I just hope the Twins are buyers, or at least window shoppers.
5 comments:
Don't forget about Eric Chavez. Word has it, Billy Beane is very interested in scrappy Nick Punto. An "even up" trade could already be in the works.
Oh no. Word had it, Billy Beane is also asking for L-Rod. This could be a deal breaker. It's been reported that Terry Ryan is unwilling to part with Luis Rodriguez's soul patch.
Maybe L-Rod, Nick Punto, and Ramon Ortiz for Eric Chavez. I wish. I think Chavez has a big contract. He would burn a hole into the baggie in right though. I've said it in the past, the only bat the Twins are going to pick up is Julio Franco's. At only 64 years old, Ryan knows he can get him for mere pennies.
I hate to break this to anyone and everyone, but Nick Punto, Lew Ford, Jason Tyner, L-Rod, Matthew LeCroy and Ramon Ortiz are not trade chips.
Carlos Silva might be.
If the Twins are going to make a deal, the most likely candidates to go are Juan Rincon and Scott Baker - and that would only be if they landed a pretty good player.
Most likely it'll be a PTBNL, similar to the deal for Phil Nevin last year that ended up sending the Cubs Adam Harben.
Of course Tyner isn't a trade chip. He's the whole damn pot!
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