MLB.com had a short piece today on some of the A's recent July trades:

http://athletics.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050625&content_id=1103357&vkey=ne ws_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak

Here are my quick grades on these 6 deals. Grades try to consider the short and long term impact of the trades, subsequent player performance, subsequent draft picks (if any), etc...:

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July 3, 2001: OF Ron Gant from the Rockies for OF Robin Jennings.

Grade: B+

Gant didn't provide great production, but he did give a veteran presence that was perfect for a young club. Gant returned to the A's for a brief swan-song in 2003. Jennings moved from Colorado to Cincinnati and put up some decent numbers in 2001, but that was his last year in the majors.

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July 25, 2001: OF Jermaine Dye from the Royals in a three-team trade for Minor Leaguers Mario Encarnacion, Jose Ortiz and Todd Belitz (to Colorado).

Grade: B+

Dye was great in the second half of 2001, but just mediocre in the 3 subsequent injury plagued years.  If only he'd stayed healthy, and not eaten up so much of the A's payroll... He's giving the White Sox a bit more power in 2005, but his production is still well off his best years in KC.

Encarnacion and Belitz barely made a ripple; Ortiz had two OK years as a sub in Colorado and is no longer in the majors.

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July 5, 2002: P Ted Lilly from the Yankees in a three-team trade for 1B Carlos Pena, P Jeremy Bonderman and P Franklyn German (to the Tigers).

Grade: C-

Lilly wasn't the difference maker that was anticipated in 2002, but he was a solid 4th starter in 2003. His numbers with Toronto were almost identical in 2004, and have fallen off sharply in 2005. Lilly was dealt for Bobby Kielty after the 2003 season, and after a horrible 2004, Kielty is having a solid year.

The A's gave up on Pena quickly, but it looks like the right move now -- his power numbers increased a bit in 2004, but his AVG has been poor, his OBP mediocre, his strikeouts sky high, and 2005 has been a disaster for him. Bonderman has improved each year, and he'd look good at the back-end of the A's rotation right now. After 3 unremarkable years, German has turned into a solid reliever in 2005.

The worst of the 6 deals; grade might slip further if Kielty leaves without compensation and Bonderman/German continue to perform.

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July 25, 2002: Inf Ray Durham from the White Sox for P Jon Adkins.

Grade: A

Durham played very well for the A's in 2002, and by letting him go as a Free Agent, they got to draft third baseman Brian Snyder (currently injured; probably headed back to single-A when healthy) and SS Omar Quintanilla (AA). Durham's had two nice years with the Giants, but his numbers may be slipping.

Adkins was an OK reliever for the Sox in 2004, but he's currently in the minors. A classic Billy Beane trade.

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July 30, 2002: LR Ricardo Rincon from the Indians for Inf. Marshall McDougal.

Grade: A-

Say what you will about Rincon, but he's given the A's solid relief work for 3 years, with an ERA in the 3's each season. McDougal is now with the Rangers and just got his first hit in the majors this week -- he's well regarded, but projected as just a utility guy...

[editor's note, by andyinfremont] McDougal just got sent back to Oklahoma.

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July 30, 2003: OF Jose Guillen from the Reds for P Aaron Harang, P Joe Valentine and P Jeff Bruksch.

Grade: B

Guillen was a big plus in the second half of 2003, and playing through his hand injury was nothing short of amazing. Great production but disruptive with the Angels in 2004; looks good with the Nationals this year.

Harang has improved each year for the Reds, and, like Jeremy Bonderman, has become a solid starter who may continue to improve. Valentine hasn't shown much so far, and Bruksch hasn't made the majors.

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That's my 2 cents. What are your grades?