I know this idea runs contrary to what looks like a move to compete now, but Buster Olney just had an interesting post:

"ESPN's Buster Olney has the latest on the Jake Peavy trade talks.

Olney says the Braves and Padres are making progress, despite Ken Rosenthal's report of Atlanta's frustration.  Olney says the Braves would send Yunel Escobar and Gorkys Hernandez to the Padres, plus Charlie Morton or Jo-Jo Reyes.  They're haggling over one last player, with the Padres eyeing southpaw Jeff Locke.

The Cubs are still in the mix, and a third team would be included to flip pitching to San Diego.  One way or another, the Cubs would give up Josh Vitters and others."

Could the A's get involved? We all know how much Beane loves to finagle his way into trades. Could we maybe be the third team to flip some pitching to San Diego? Maybe something like this:

Cubs get: Peavy

A's get: Vitters

Padres get: Some combination of HRod, Mazzaro, or Simmons? And another prospect or two from the Cubs.

Or is there another combination that could land us Vitters without giving up Cahill or Anderson? We might have to give up a little more depending on other organization's evaluation of those pitchers. Maybe we throw one of our ML ready OFs  or Barton in there and get something back on the prospect front somehow.

From everything I've read, Vitters is an extremely polished hitter with the fielding skills to stick at 3B. He could be ML ready by the time the A's move and Cahill and Anderson are legit studs at the front of a rotation. Maybe that's an optimistic projection for Vitters - but after giving up our top hitting prospect, it'd be nice to replace him at a position without much depth in the system (assuming Carter doesn't stick at third). This could all be completely skewed because it's an analysis that is seen through my Evan Longoria man crush eyes.