I received a frightful scare this morning. I read in the SF Chronicle this morning that the A's are expected to re-sign Jay Witasick to "a two-year deal with a club option".

At first I read this as two years plus an option for a third. And I went, "Eeeek! Jay Witasick is going to haunt us for three years!"

But then I realized my eyes were being tricked. They must mean that the second year was the option. Whew! What a relief. I mean, why would you give a guaranteed two-year deal to a 33-year-old player with a long history taking random moments to suddenly turn into a pumpkin?

Witasick is a useful player. He puts up pretty decent numbers on average. But he fluctuates around that average wildly. His command can disappear for weeks at a time. As a result, you only want him in the middle of your pen. He'll spook you if you rely on him too much in high-leverage situations.

Billy Beane probably still believes that relievers are where the bargains are these days, but remember, this is Jay Witasick. The cost may seem like a sweet treat now, but if things turn rotten, it may leave a painful cavity in the roster and the budget. So please, let's revisit him at least once a year.