2008 thread

TheFlyingBomb · 12-21-2007, 10:43 AM

It may be a little early since I think Blanton is going to get traded, but I guess we can start guessing what 2008 looks like.
I like the Haren trade even if he was probably my favorite player on the team. We got six players, for pete's sake. They seem like a pretty good haul; good mix of placeholders for now and prospects for later (link, link).
It's going to be a tough year, but it could be a little exciting to see players like Barton and Suzuki develop, and I'm interested to see how Gonzalez looks in CF. I kind of hope BB and Geren just start him over Kotsay and see how he does. Between those three, Swisher and Buck, I think we could have a decent offense, even if it is one that may need a year or two to develop.
Hopefully we can address the middle infield through trading Blanton or some other way. Crosby probably needs to go, and if I recall correctly, Ellis is a free agent after 2008, so there's time to address that.
I don't really know what to make of the rotation at this point. I'm guessing if he's healthy, Harden is set to be our number 1, and then behind him would be Blanton (probably somewhere else by opening day, though), Gaudin (I think I read somewhere that he's having hip surgery this offseason, but I can't find a link), DiNardo, and then it gets a lot thinner after that. It's likely that our 4-5 starters will be two of Dallas Braden, Dan Meyer, Dana Eveland, Greg Smith, and Justin Duchscherer. Kind of frightening. I guess that's what will hurt us next year.

In any case, regarding Blanton, I saw the following on MLB Trade Rumors

Quote:

Buster Olney heard that the Mets could acquire starter Joe Blanton from the A's if they'd agree to surrender Carlos Gomez, Aaron Heilman, and Kevin Mulvey. I wonder if Oakland would try Heilman in the rotation.

The A's would probably go with an outfield nucleus of Travis Buck in left, Gomez in center, and Carlos Gonzalez in right. That could make Nick Swisher - signed for five years through 2012 - expendable.

I dunno about that one. It seems a lot like the rumors we always hear about who the Mets want to give us. Food for thought, anyway.

TheFlyingBomb · 01-03-2008, 05:32 PM

Well, the Swisher trade caught me completely off-guard, but even at first glance, I really like it.

It definitely feels like 2008 could be one of the worst years in memory, but I really like the way 2009, 2010, 2011 look. The Haren/Swisher trades have basically restocked our farm system. And now that I've internalized the fact that two of my favorite players were moved this offseason, I'm excited to see who BB can move next (Blanton, Street, Ellis maybe) and for what. If you're going to rebuild, do it all the way. There's excitement in this for me, and I can't understand how someone can be a big A's fan and not understand that this is what BB does.

On an unrelated note, is anyone out there or am I typing into the void?

Nat · 01-05-2008, 01:19 AM

I'm here, keep typing. Honestly it's tough to get excited about the A's this year with our two best players gone...I suppose we'll have to be content with watching the greenhorns develop like in 1997-98.
But come 2010 this should be a hell of a team...
I do suppose BB is doing it the right way...cut out mediocrity and go for the gusto (whether rebuilding or aiming for a World Series). This organization has been feast or famine from its conception, and we have 9 World Championships to show for it.
I love being an A's fan, no matter what transpires...

DeJay · 01-05-2008, 12:48 PM

I would be very surprised if Blanton is still with us by the end of spring training. Street too. Beane is in full rebuilding mode and if they aren't gone by then, then I'm sure they'll be traded by the trade deadline. I doubt they'll get much for Kotsay, and Chavez and Harden's values are at an all time low so we might as well keep them in the hope that they are able to stay healthy and rebound, after which they could be traded in 2008 off season. Ellis is due to be a Class A free agent next year so unless someone offers us the equivalent of two 1st rounders (which is unlikely) I can't see him being moved. Same I think with Embree.

TheFlyingBomb · 01-07-2008, 01:13 PM

If Harden and Gaudin are healthy this year (big ifs, I know) we might not look as bad as we're thinking.

Nat, your statement that you "love being an A's fan, no matter what transpires" is dead-on for me. I know we're not going to win this year, but I might be even more excited about the season than I normally am. I'm very, very interested to see how all of these young guys shake out.

TheFlyingBomb · 01-07-2008, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeJay

Ellis is due to be a Class A free agent next year so unless someone offers us the equivalent of two 1st rounders (which is unlikely) I can't see him being moved. Same I think with Embree.

The more I've thought about this, the more I think BB might try to hang on to Ellis beyond 2008. I know that doesn't fit with the rebuilding model for right now, but we're still very weak in the middle infield as far as our farm system goes, and my understanding is that good 2B/SS prospects are pretty hard to come by elsewhere. With payroll dropping over the next few years, we'd probably be able to afford him and he could be part of our young team's veteran leadership. Don't really know, but it's just a thought.

Nat · 01-07-2008, 09:25 PM

I think Ellis would make a nice veteran presence in a key position when the young guys come up...not unlike his own mentor Randy Velarde. Hopefully BB agrees with us.

TheFlyingBomb · 01-12-2008, 04:36 PM

All signs point to Kotsay being traded in the next few days. Even if we have to take half of his salary, I'll take it. Moving Kotsay is a coup.
I don't know much about Emil Brown, but I guess he'll play against lefties. I can't imagine that he'd be an every day player.

Nat · 01-14-2008, 07:06 PM

Seems like we got a couple halfway-decent but not-spectacular pitchers for Kotsay....better than the bucket-of-balls I would've let go for him, myself.
It also seems all the "dead weight" has been lifted from the ballclub going into this season, depending on how BobbyCro performs this spring...

TheFlyingBomb · 01-15-2008, 12:50 PM

I'd love to see Crosby gone.
The papers are all saying Joey Devine, who we got in the Kotsay deal, is a precursor to Street being traded.
I see the logic, but there's also been a lot of talk about how poorly Devine has been handled to date and that he needs time to develop. For that reason I don't see Street being moved before the trade deadline, and maybe not until later.
Who knows, though.
That BB was able to get anyone to take Kotsay off our hands makes me happy and kind of boosts my faith in how this whole rebuilding process is going to go.

TheFlyingBomb · 01-18-2008, 02:10 PM

Street signs.
One year deal worth $3.3. mil.
Hard to say what this means re: the idea of trading him for more prospects and letting Devine or someone else take the position over, especially in light of this line:

Quote:

Assistant general manager David Forst said that Street's deal does not rule out more discussions about a multiyear deal.

The article also mentions that Blanton and Gaudin, the only players left on the team who are arbitration eligible, are expected to file today.

bedir than average · 01-18-2008, 07:28 PM

Great relievers are easy to find in most systems, but overvalued by many GMs, I suspect that Street will be dealt by the 09 deadline.

TheFlyingBomb · 03-06-2008, 05:59 PM

So Sweeney is looking good. I can't see how the A's don't keep him on the major league roster.

That leaves the question of what to do with Dan Johnson. I see the Mets may have an opening at first base. It would suck to unload Johnson at a low price and see him bloom in the big apple, but it might be what we need. Maybe the Mets have an infield prospect who could push Crosby. Just a thought.

Nat · 03-07-2008, 08:37 PM

That would be nice, as it appears the IF is our only weakness in the minors as well. Do the Mets even have prospects tho? I see the DRays (or is it just Rays now?) have a couple top SS coming up...they'd likely want a good-sized package.

01-03-2008, 05:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheFlyingBomb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 750	Well, the Swisher trade caught me completely off-guard, but even at first glance, I really like it. It definitely feels like 2008 could be one of the worst years in memory, but I really like the way 2009, 2010, 2011 look. The Haren/Swisher trades have basically restocked our farm system. And now that I've internalized the fact that two of my favorite players were moved this offseason, I'm excited to see who BB can move next (Blanton, Street, Ellis maybe) and for what. If you're going to rebuild, do it all the way. There's excitement in this for me, and I can't understand how someone can be a big A's fan and not understand that this is what BB does. On an unrelated note, is anyone out there or am I typing into the void? __________________ Oh, whatever.

01-07-2008, 01:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
TheFlyingBomb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 750	If Harden and Gaudin are healthy this year (big ifs, I know) we might not look as bad as we're thinking. Nat, your statement that you "love being an A's fan, no matter what transpires" is dead-on for me. I know we're not going to win this year, but I might be even more excited about the season than I normally am. I'm very, very interested to see how all of these young guys shake out. __________________ Oh, whatever.

01-12-2008, 04:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
TheFlyingBomb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 750	All signs point to Kotsay being traded in the next few days. Even if we have to take half of his salary, I'll take it. Moving Kotsay is a coup. I don't know much about Emil Brown, but I guess he'll play against lefties. I can't imagine that he'd be an every day player. __________________ Oh, whatever.

01-15-2008, 12:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
TheFlyingBomb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 750	I'd love to see Crosby gone. The papers are all saying Joey Devine, who we got in the Kotsay deal, is a precursor to Street being traded. I see the logic, but there's also been a lot of talk about how poorly Devine has been handled to date and that he needs time to develop. For that reason I don't see Street being moved before the trade deadline, and maybe not until later. Who knows, though. That BB was able to get anyone to take Kotsay off our hands makes me happy and kind of boosts my faith in how this whole rebuilding process is going to go. __________________ Oh, whatever.

01-18-2008, 07:28 PM	#12 (permalink)
bedir than average Administrator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Starbucks Posts: 8,256	Great relievers are easy to find in most systems, but overvalued by many GMs, I suspect that Street will be dealt by the 09 deadline. __________________ US Men's National Team World Cup Qualifying \| Democracy in Sports Meets My First Campaign "You're only so sure you're right because they're so sure you're wrong." Orson Scott Card in Xenocide

01-05-2008, 01:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
Nat Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,178	I'm here, keep typing. Honestly it's tough to get excited about the A's this year with our two best players gone...I suppose we'll have to be content with watching the greenhorns develop like in 1997-98. But come 2010 this should be a hell of a team... I do suppose BB is doing it the right way...cut out mediocrity and go for the gusto (whether rebuilding or aiming for a World Series). This organization has been feast or famine from its conception, and we have 9 World Championships to show for it. I love being an A's fan, no matter what transpires...

01-05-2008, 12:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
DeJay Rookie Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 13	I would be very surprised if Blanton is still with us by the end of spring training. Street too. Beane is in full rebuilding mode and if they aren't gone by then, then I'm sure they'll be traded by the trade deadline. I doubt they'll get much for Kotsay, and Chavez and Harden's values are at an all time low so we might as well keep them in the hope that they are able to stay healthy and rebound, after which they could be traded in 2008 off season. Ellis is due to be a Class A free agent next year so unless someone offers us the equivalent of two 1st rounders (which is unlikely) I can't see him being moved. Same I think with Embree.

01-07-2008, 09:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
Nat Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,178	I think Ellis would make a nice veteran presence in a key position when the young guys come up...not unlike his own mentor Randy Velarde. Hopefully BB agrees with us.

01-14-2008, 07:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
Nat Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,178	Seems like we got a couple halfway-decent but not-spectacular pitchers for Kotsay....better than the bucket-of-balls I would've let go for him, myself. It also seems all the "dead weight" has been lifted from the ballclub going into this season, depending on how BobbyCro performs this spring...

03-06-2008, 05:59 PM	#13 (permalink)
TheFlyingBomb Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 750	So Sweeney is looking good. I can't see how the A's don't keep him on the major league roster. That leaves the question of what to do with Dan Johnson. I see the Mets may have an opening at first base. It would suck to unload Johnson at a low price and see him bloom in the big apple, but it might be what we need. Maybe the Mets have an infield prospect who could push Crosby. Just a thought. __________________ Oh, whatever.

03-07-2008, 08:37 PM	#14 (permalink)
Nat Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,178	That would be nice, as it appears the IF is our only weakness in the minors as well. Do the Mets even have prospects tho? I see the DRays (or is it just Rays now?) have a couple top SS coming up...they'd likely want a good-sized package.