Talk about your surprising developments.

To go from Coors to the Coliseum is quite a change.

The names thrown around are Street, Smith, Carlos Gonzalez, and/or Sweeney. I really hope they didn't move Carlos.

They must think Gonzalez isn't going to develop. And they also have to think they can make another move, like signing Furcal.

I don't know what to think about this. I feel like the blue chip prospects won't be contributing next year, and there's no way they can re-sign Holliday. They could flip him at the deadline if they're out of it, but will they get more than they gave at that point? It's an odd move.

All that said, I'm looking forward to the A's having a guy who can actually hit next year.

3 The only way this deal makes sense is if Holliday is immediately resigned past 2009.

ESPN.com floats the names of Greg Smith and Brett Anderson as the bodies involved in the trade.

The Wolffman is tired of losing, eh? Look, I know that owning this particular team in this particular economic climate presents quite a challenge, and the front office has done an admirable job under these circumstances, but Holliday is clearly a rental, the A's are likely not going to be a threat in '09, and come the trade deadline, he's gone. I understand why that has to happen, but it's frustrating as hell to watch. I'm really, really looking forward to 2011-12. But in the meantime, Lew needs to quit pissing on my leg and telling me it's raining. And Fremont ain't Oakland. And I miss the Haas family something fierce right now...

Street, Smith and Sweeney I'm OK with--none of those three will be part of the future core. Gonzalez and Anderson would bother me.

6 Prepare to be bothered. Chronicle says the heroic trio are Street, Smith, and C-Gone.

7 Rats. Gonzalez has a far higher ceiling than Sweeney. But maybe I'm just wishcasting and confusing potential for actual value. Maybe the A's think Gonzalez will never have a good enough OBP to make it.

Meanwhile, Sweeney is the better hitter today. But on the other hand, he's not a legit CF. All the defensive stats I've seen rate Gonzalez as an excellent CF, while Sweeney is far below average.

Yeah, Gonzalez's tools are very impressive when you see him in person. Great defensively and the ball jumped off his bat in the games I saw him play.

I'm going to hold out some hope that maybe one of the Rockies' spare infield prospects might be coming this way, as well.

Hey Ken, if/when they flip him at the deadline next year, will we see a certain all time home run leader wearing the green and gold?

11 Sadaharu Oh is a little bit too old for the A's, given the youth movement of recent years.

12 Less puckishly, I think the Barry Bonds train has left the station.

13 Yeah, I agree. But if they were going to do Bonds, I'd think they'd want Bonds AND Holliday, not just one or the other. If you're going to do a one-year Go-For-It, you might as well Go For It from the start.

12
I don't think the A's have the stomach to sign Sadaharu Oh.