Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Ken: catfish AT zombia d.o.t. com
Ryan: rarmbrust AT gmail d.o.t. com
Philip: kingchimp AT alamedanet d.o.t net
When I say, "Let's Do This", Billy Beane doesn't waste any time, does he? Nick Swisher, who in many ways has been the defining personality of the A's franchise the last two years, is now gone to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for three prospects.
The A's get the White Sox' top two prospects, pitchers Fautino de los Santos and Gio Gonzalez, plus a fourth-outfielder type in Ryan Sweeney. De los Santos has a huge ceiling, but is probably a few years away from the big leagues. He's the kind of high-reward talent that we A's fans hoping the A's would get back in exchange for Dan Haren. Gonzalez is not nearly as talented, but is polished and almost ready for the majors.
The trade of Swisher is a bit of a surprise, as we've been expecting that Joe Blanton would be the next to go. Plus, Swisher was under contract through 2012, so he could conceivably still be around when the A's are ready to contend again. But I guess Beane is going full-bore on filling the 2011 basket with as much talent as conceivably possible. Since Swisher has been dealt, I don't think there is any trade that follows now that would surprise me.
When you look at the combined trades of Haren and Swisher, what Beane has received in return is a possible Haren in de los Santos, a possible Swisher in Carlos Gonzalez, plus a possible Blanton or two in Brett Anderson and Gio Gonzalez. It will be fun and interesting to add all this up when the ordeal is overwith.
After Blanton (and Street/Chavez/Ellis?) get traded, the A's may have the #1 farm system in baseball, with their own scouts providing one Four Star prospect...
I am still in shock.
Right now though, I'm wondering where the hell my cow just went.
And supposedly Sweeney was the Chisox top prospect going into 2011, not sure what happened in between then and now other than a bad season.
And who will play RF in 2008? Cust? Sweeney? Denorfia?
08:$3.5M
09:$5.3M
10:$6.75M
11:$9M
12:$10.25M club option ($1M buyout)
(from Cot's)
Beane is also punting the 08 season.
I understand trading Swish considering the A's mob of 1B/OF types (Cust, Swish, Buck, Barton, Carter, etc). But I admit being shocked when I read about it. Like you guys, nothing would shock me now, except perhaps NOT trading Blanton...
Do you think Beane may even trade someone like Huston Street, since he thinks relievers are overvalued?
Street's a goner, yeah. The only holdup I see are that there are only two contending teams that could really use a closer: the Cubs and the Braves. The Cubs prospects don't thrill me much, and the Braves top prospects are mostly outfielders, so maybe Beane will wait until after the season starts. There's always five to ten closers who flame out every year.
The Blanton trade, I think, is not going to happen until the Johan Santana issue gets resolved. The Mets look like the best trade partner there, but the Mets are still hoping to land Santana instead, and won't deal prospects to Oakland until they're sure they won't need them to land Santana.
Stockton? Single A... wow. Okay.
Ken also pretty much nailed my second point, which is that the A's suck now, yes, but they have added a boatload of talent. When you add to that talent the guys they'll get from Blanton/Street/Ellis, not to mention the Top 10 draft picks the A's are gonna have the next couple of years, one can't help but believe that the A's are going to have a pretty kickass team for the new stadium.
It really sucks that that stadium is in Fremont.
404 West Fremont Street.
It all fits, my friends.
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