Slusser Reporting A's Signing Kotsay "Likely"

by bigelephant on Jul 8, 2005 5:51 AM PDT

In this morning in sfgate.com Susan Slusser reports on the pending Payton/Bradford trade. I happen to like Payton's game, so giving up Bradford isn't so bad in my opinion. What I found interesting though was Slusser's take on the contract talks between the A's and Kotsay. She seems to suggest that the talks are "going well" and its likely Kotsay will soon sign for around 7 mil with a 2 year extension. This produces an interesting question-someone will need to be traded, who?

The usual suspects:

Byrnes
Rincon
Cruz
Hatteberg
Ginter
Zito
Saarloos
Ellis
Scoot

Any thoughts as to who and where?

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here is the link....

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2005/07/08/SPGSVDJVP31.DTL

by CyZito on Jul 8, 2005 6:02 AM PDT reply actions

One more thing...

I think we clearly need to trade an outfielder if we do indeed trade for JV Payton, but I don't think that we will need to move payroll just to sign Kotsay. If you look at the recent Beane interview (which was awesome!) he says:

"When the right baseball decision comes along and it fits short-term and long-term, then I have no doubt (the budget will increase) as he said it to me."

So, my guess is that Beane et al thinks its worth signing Kotsay for a 2 (maybe 3 with mutual contract extension) year deal to have an anchor in CF for the next couple years. I really hope we can resign him, and I can't wait for these next couple seasons!

GO A's!!!

by CyZito on Jul 8, 2005 6:09 AM PDT reply actions

Slusser has consistently been optimistic

about the A's signing Kotsay. It may be a case of "glass half empty vs glass half full". I think there is probably the desire on both sides to see this happen. However, there is always the issue of whether they can agree on the outstanding issue (which from most reports seems to be the no trade clause, and whether some desperate team is willing to overpay for Kotsay.

Let's remember that so far all rumors regarding Payton to Oakland rest on East Coast sources. I have also seen rumors about Payton going to Atlanta or Los Angeles. Who knows?

by OaklandSi on Jul 8, 2005 6:15 AM PDT reply actions

two things oaksi

Slusser offers "a source close to the neg." as evidence that things are going well with kotsay, so it might not be just slusser beating the drum.
The payton/bradford trade is almost a certainity. its widely reported in all the boston papers and those guys basically have spys throughout the boston front office. i mean, things could change over the next 7-10 days but i really think its a done deal.

We're not dunderheads here...

by bigelephant on Jul 8, 2005 7:07 AM PDT reply actions

If Kots negotiations not going well...

The east coast tabloids would be all over it. The fact the Yankees brought up a guy from AA shows that they are already going another direction. I take all this as resigning Kots is imminent.
Re: Byrnes, Hatteberg, Cruz, Hatteberg, Ginter. I don't see much trade value based on their seasons thus far. Trading Bradford appears to be more based upon what he's done in the past than anything else.
We will have to get a lot in order to give up Rincon. Everyone knows of his value-prob. not going anywhere.
Ellis and Scooty are interesting. They've been serviceable but are by no means the complete package. Together they offer options and Macha likes options. My guess is that they stay, beside they're cheap (and easy).

by Gerard on Jul 8, 2005 8:23 AM PDT reply actions

Perhaps..........

The Payton deal is just one piece of a larger trade. Maybe Payton will be moving on? Remember Michael Barrett?

Every team needs a few guys with big f*ckin' stones who ain't afraid to flash 'em - Huddy

by FabulousG on Jul 8, 2005 8:29 AM PDT reply actions

i agree FabG,

beane could very well use payton as an assest in a larger deal coming soon. i was more encouraged with slusser's report that contract talks are going well with kotsay. i just finished watching kotsay play CF in toronto and he is very good. i like his game.

We're not dunderheads here...

by bigelephant on Jul 8, 2005 8:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Michael Barrett

did a solid job for us, but I thought Jeff Weaver perfomed a little better.

Nico

by Nico on Jul 8, 2005 10:02 AM PDT up reply actions

agreed

He took down NY more than the rest of our squad combined.

"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Jul 8, 2005 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions

But He Was No Carlos Beltran

by Eck on Jul 8, 2005 11:57 AM PDT up reply actions

Moving Bradford....

Doesn't bother me at all for the right return. We have plenty of bullpen arms and i think Garcia should get a shot at a spot soon. Moving Kotsay on the other hand would be a huge blunder. Centerfielders of his caliber are like needles in a haystack. And Payton can't carrry the guy's jock. Our youung pitchers are that much better with Kots roaming centerfield. Let's hope Billy takes care of Kotsay soon.

Every team needs a few guys with big f*ckin' stones who ain't afraid to flash 'em - Huddy

by FabulousG on Jul 8, 2005 8:33 AM PDT reply actions

Slusser on signing Kotsay

I do not think she's "beating the drum" as some sort of advocate of signing him. That's not her job. I think she's got sources on this one (Kotsay being one of them) and has good reason to think he will probably sign an extension. That doesn't mean he will, as Beane will want to keep his options open, but her repeated reports that Kotsay will probably sign/doesn't want too much are comforting to me.

As for Payton, I don't know how he fits in. I assume Beane would deal an outfielder (Byrnes, most likely) or flip Payton to some other team that wants him more. There could be one of those Beane 3-team specials in the works.

I have always liked Bradford, but he has had back trouble for a while now, and it's hard to know whether he will ever be a consistently effective pitcher again. Still, it could be a very smart acquisition for the bullpen-thin Red Sox.

by bear88 on Jul 8, 2005 9:05 AM PDT reply actions