NEWS FLASH: A'S BIDDING FOR SORIANO!!

It is unknown whether the A's would keep Soriano or re-package him in another deal. Oakland GM Billy Beane has a history of working three-way deals -- though if the A's are going for it this year, Soriano makes sense because Oakland's offense is borderline anemic and third baseman Eric Chavez has been battling forearm tendinitis and is having a down year offensively.  

The eleventh-hour emergence of Oakland in the talks ranks as bombshell news -- and news that could have huge ramifications in the AL West race with the first-place A's leading second-place Los Angeles by only half a game in the standings.

The Athletics rank last in the majors with a .249 team batting average and .393 slugging percentage. Though Soriano almost certainly would be a short-timer in Oakland -- the A's will not be able to afford him on this winter's free-agent market -- under the creative Beane, the A's could either use Soriano to make a strong playoff push or re-direct him elsewhere

DJ, Windsor and a catcher for soriano?

That's a lot for two months, but may trump whatever the twins and Angels are offering.

This may be BB's greatest trade deadline coup yet. Or at least he'll drive up the Angels' price.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5367&PHPSESSID=7f76700700ac3411bc27aa242 ced0083

From Will Carroll at Baseball Prospectus before BB was announced:

"The idea that Florida would acquire Alfonso Soriano makes sense, both at its most basic level, and in a more complex scenario. The more involved issue is the potential shadow of the new CBA, with teams worried that a de facto salary floor might be put in place. Teams that have bottomed out the payroll would rather not make Royal-style veteran mediocrity signings, and are looking to see if there are fits or long-term signings that would make the bottom line more favorable looking to the teams writing revenue sharing checks. There's also a lot of speculation that dealing a passel of young pitchers for Soriano would be just one side of the transaction. All three teams in the AL Central race made calls to Florida to check on the situation, as did the Angels."

Knowing how BB loves pitching prospects it would be like him to cut himself in for a few of the Marlins

Nats; DJ, Windsor & ?
Marlins: Soriano
A's: Pitching prospects

This manuever keeps Soriano away from the Angels and Texas

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5367&PHPSESSID=7f76700700ac3411bc27aa242 ced0083

From Will Carroll at Baseball Prospectus before BB was announced:

"The idea that Florida would acquire Alfonso Soriano makes sense, both at its most basic level, and in a more complex scenario. The more involved issue is the potential shadow of the new CBA, with teams worried that a de facto salary floor might be put in place. Teams that have bottomed out the payroll would rather not make Royal-style veteran mediocrity signings, and are looking to see if there are fits or long-term signings that would make the bottom line more favorable looking to the teams writing revenue sharing checks. There's also a lot of speculation that dealing a passel of young pitchers for Soriano would be just one side of the transaction. All three teams in the AL Central race made calls to Florida to check on the situation, as did the Angels."

Knowing how BB loves pitching prospects it would be like him to cut himself in for a few of the Marlins

Nats; DJ, Windsor & ?
Marlins: Soriano
A's: Pitching prospects

This manuever keeps Soriano away from the Angels and Texas