A's close to deal with Alan Embree

by bballfanr33 on Dec 4, 2006 7:41 AM PST

With the winter meetings starting today im sure there will be a fair share of rumors, but this one seems a little more then a rumor. As ESPN is reporting the A's are close to a signing Alan Embree lefty reliever. They are saying this would push Kennedy into the rotation if the A's due indeed get Embree.

A's close to deal with Embree
Dec 3 - The Athletics are close to completing negotiations on a contract with free agent left-handed reliever Embree, reports Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine. Embree was 4-3 with a 3.27 ERA in 73 games for San Diego last season. Assuming that Oakland is able to sign Embree, it would probably shift left-hander Joe Kennedy, who worked out of the bullpen last year, into the rotation.

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I can't say I like the thought

of putting Kennedy back in the rotation, as managers tend to stack the lineup with righties when he pitches...

Granted, signing Embree and plugging Bazooka Joe back into the lineup is probably our cheapest way of shoring up the rotation, as Embree only made $850k last year. This is a lot cheaper than acquiring a free agent pitcher a-la DUIza last year, so perhaps the drop-off in talent is worth the dollars we save, and can use to go after a big bat to replace Big Frank...

Me and your kid probably have the same IQ!! -Swisher to Chavvy

My Blog

by rungood on Dec 4, 2006 7:53 AM PST reply actions

Yuck

I cant say I like the thought of Embree on the A's.

Having a decent 5th starter last year was such a luxury, I can't say I expect that much from Kennedy.

Looks like we are going back to the Rincon days with Embree. Barf.

"...we don't score six, seven runs. We score three, four runs and play defense and pitch" - Eric Chavez

by pickinmachine on Dec 4, 2006 8:31 AM PST up reply actions

Decent 5th Starter Last Year

Who? Saarloos? Windsor? Komine? I'll take Joe Kennedy over any of those 5th Starters.

Personally, I think Kennedy turned a corner last year (mentally). He has learned to attack right-handed hitters on the inner half of the plate. He was not doing that his last year as a Starter in Colorado.

As for Embree: If he's used properly (LOOGY), he should be fine. We'll have two lefties in the pen (Halsey), so no need to have Embree pitch to any right-handed hitters. Gaudin, Calero, Duke, Street can handle the righties.

Yeah, there are probably better options out there. But those options cost a lot of $$$$$$$$.

by Colorado Fan on Dec 4, 2006 8:43 AM PST up reply actions

sorry

should have been more clear.

Loaiza SHOULD have been our 5th starter.

"...we don't score six, seven runs. We score three, four runs and play defense and pitch" - Eric Chavez

by pickinmachine on Dec 4, 2006 8:47 AM PST up reply actions

Kennedy no lock for rotation

Last year, Kennedy was better against righties than lefties, so it's not like he was ever our loogy. True, he's probably the "official" frontrunner to go to the rotation, but he's no where near a lock. Jerome Williams should get a very long look for fifth starter. Also, I wouldn't rule out Jason Windsor.

by panchopunch on Dec 4, 2006 9:17 AM PST up reply actions

Nice signing, if true.

Embree is a good reliever.

"Look its either batman or batman and robin not robin w/o batman robin isn't sh@#."--cchefz71

by jeepers on Dec 4, 2006 8:23 AM PST reply actions

Embree would be a GREAT Addition:

The guy can flat out bring it.

http://www.silverandblackpride.com/

by saint @ Athletics Nation on Dec 4, 2006 8:46 AM PST reply actions

I personally think that...

this team needs more people named Alan. Great addition.

by CyZito on Dec 4, 2006 9:19 AM PST reply actions

Competition

Maybe he and Swisher can have a competition about who can stuff more chew in their mouths while on the field. The A's are going to start doing testimonials for Altria products (not the Ritz crackers).

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Dec 4, 2006 10:08 AM PST reply actions

Yuck

Don't like it at all if it's true. I'm not sold on Alan Embree being all that great of a pitcher.

Also, I think it was made quite clear by last year's results that Kennedy is a much better commodity out of the pen than he is the rotation. He's never really had any success as a starter.

An interesting tidbit from mlbtraderumors.com also:
"Two first basemen who have been connected to the Bucs are Daric Barton and Casey Kotchman. Jake questions the Kotchman possibility - if he was over his mono, how come he didn't play winter ball to prove it?"

there's simply no club like the white elephant club

by walk off bunt on Dec 4, 2006 10:21 AM PST reply actions

That's interesting

The Bucs have a ton of young, talented pitching prospects. If they would include Zach Duke in such a deal, I'd consider it.

"Look its either batman or batman and robin not robin w/o batman robin isn't sh@#."--cchefz71

by jeepers on Dec 4, 2006 10:52 AM PST up reply actions

which is exactly why

they wont include duke

by fadedash on Dec 4, 2006 12:32 PM PST up reply actions

Trade

Kennedy is a top-flight short reliever but a mediocre starter. Seems to me that signing Embree opens the door to trading Kennedy as part of a deal for a decent 5th starter, or outfielder/1B, or even trading Duke and moving Kennedy into the role of top set-up man.

by richwol on Dec 4, 2006 10:25 AM PST reply actions

is he gonna be the '07 version

of the '06 sauerbeck or prior to that rincon?

by arch on Dec 4, 2006 10:48 AM PST reply actions

Inconsistency in Embree's Stats

Just looking at his career stats. This guy has had one great season, 2003 (2.03 ERA), a couple of very good ones (1996, 3.27; 1998, 3.3)8; and two adequate years with Boston, 2003-4, 4.26, 4.13.

But then there are his REALLY BAD years.

7.33 ERA (White Sox & Giants)
7.62 ERA (Red Sox & Yankees)

by richwol on Dec 4, 2006 11:11 AM PST reply actions

well, it's clear from that ...

... that the determining factor is whether he plays for one team or 2 during a season. So long as we sign him and hold on to him all year, he'll pitch well! QED.

People wanted Washington because he would do a better job of establishing the run. -- andeux @('.')@

by monkeyball on Dec 4, 2006 11:59 AM PST up reply actions

True

Beane must be careful not to change our name to the "Athletic Sox" during the season as well.

"Look its either batman or batman and robin not robin w/o batman robin isn't sh@#."--cchefz71

by jeepers on Dec 4, 2006 12:08 PM PST up reply actions

were those leap years?

by jjham15 on Dec 4, 2006 9:29 PM PST up reply actions

i think the padres offered him arbitration

not good. mike magnante?

by vincehorsemansmullett on Dec 4, 2006 12:29 PM PST reply actions

Type B

He won't cost the signing club anything, but the Pads will get a sandwhich pick if he departs.

Signatures? We don't need no stinking signatures.

by jubjub on Dec 4, 2006 12:49 PM PST up reply actions

good

thanks for clarifying.

by vincehorsemansmullett on Dec 4, 2006 6:30 PM PST up reply actions

BB can trade Kennedy, Halsey, or Flores

by adding Embry

by Billy Ball 2005 on Dec 4, 2006 1:12 PM PST reply actions

Kennedy might be more likely to go...

Why trade Halsey or Flores, both of whom seem promising and earn the minimum, when Kennedy's going to pull down close to $3 million? Sure, Kennedy was great in the pen last year (when healthy), but can he really do the job as a starter? I wonder if Halsey and/or Flores have minor league options left?

Maybe the A's are pumping up Kennedy's value as a prelude to trading him, or they simply don't have faith in Halsey or Flores (neither of whom is likely to get us much trade-wise) and have already made the decision to plug Kennedy into the rotation?

by andyinfremont on Dec 4, 2006 2:30 PM PST up reply actions

Kennedy is worth the $$$ as LH setup man

Why would we trade Kennedy, Halsey or Flores?
...to improve the team.
...the same reason we would trade anyone.

Who-What-Where-When did the A's announce Kennedy has a starters slot?

by Billy Ball 2005 on Dec 4, 2006 10:03 PM PST up reply actions

I think it's a good signing

Embree is not a star, but he is an above average short reliever. I think the notion that Kennedy moves into the rotation is just an assumption, and probably one that is incorrect.

A bullpen with Street, Duke, Calero, and Embree in short relief, and Kennedy able to go 2+ innings in middle relief, is solid, and gives Gaudin or Halsey a shot at winning the #5 spot in the rotation. (Or you can make a trade that improves the offense, defense, or rotation.)

Who does Embree really replace in this scenario? Guys like Flores and Witasick. Works for me.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Dec 4, 2006 4:12 PM PST reply actions

Witasick

I doubt the A's are going to eat the $2 million they still owe Witasick, so unless they manage to trade him, it would appear that Embree replaces Flores.

And I just don't see Embree being much of an upgrade over Flores -- Embree pitches in a lot of games (60+ year in, year out), but I'd rather keep Flores and take the $500,000+ we'd save not signing Embree and put it towards the DH/1B/LF slot (or allocate it toward to a long-term deal for Street/Swisher).

by andyinfremont on Dec 4, 2006 4:43 PM PST up reply actions

For those who aren't aware,

Alan Embree has actually pitched for the A's before. He just went by the name "Buddy Groom".

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Dec 4, 2006 7:44 PM PST up reply actions