Idea

by monta101 on Nov 13, 2008 7:18 AM PST

Billy Beane is a smart guy. He's probably one of the smartest guys that I have met. He's probably brewing up something as we speak. Do any of you see anything similar between the Swisher, Haren, and Harden trades? He traded an established player for minor leaguers who are ready for the major league level. Maybe he was thinking that he could get those prospects up in the Majors and showcase them for the next team that noticed them. In the Haren trade, the A's acquired Greg Smith. They showcased him for 1 season and turned around and traded him again. Same thing happened with Carlos Gonzalez. They showcased him for 1 season and traded him. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if that at the end of this season, Beane trades Holliday for some MLB ready prospects. What do you guys think?

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Highly unlikely

that he gets traded at the end of the season considering that’s when he becomes a free agent. Mid-season, maybe. Even so, Billy has to let the kids come up and develop and gel at once. Smith wasn’t much of an asset and our front office was low on Gonzalez’s liklihood of reaching his ceiling. That’s all.

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by RyanFromBonas on Nov 13, 2008 7:45 AM PST reply actions

Wow, you're charitable

“Highly unlikely”? It’s prohibited by MLB rules. I’d call that unlikely, yes.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Nov 13, 2008 10:42 AM PST up reply actions

we are totally on the same page

smart guys are definitely brewing as we speak.

Save Rajai Davis

by oakinboston on Nov 13, 2008 9:06 AM PST reply actions

not sure I agree on Gonzalez

it’s not necessary to think that the A’s were low on Gonzalez to understand this trade. Gonzalez could well have been considered to still have as high a ceiling as they’d said last year, while acknowledging that he was at least a year away from being major league ready. Many had thought he should have spent all of 2008 in AAA, and perhaps letting him stay with the big club for so long wasn’t good for his development.

But to get something good you also have to give up something good. The Rockies had turned down other offers before for Holliday, so it would make sense that they’d demand at least one “high ceiling” prospect in this deal.

by OaklandSi on Nov 13, 2008 9:12 AM PST reply actions

Maybe I'm projecting my own thoughts on Gonzalez onto Holliday

But the one thing I like most about this trade is that it likely shows what I argued about a month ago. I felt that Gonzalez’s trade value wasn’t going to get higher than this offseason. I also argued that I thought Cunningham and Buck (and possibly even Sweeney) would all be better major leaguers. Now it’s possible the A’s don’t believe any of that, but it seems a little strange that they’d move Gonzalez so soon for a one-year player if they thought he was going to be a perennial all-star anytime soon (or ever).

by thejd44 on Nov 13, 2008 10:39 AM PST up reply actions

I disagree

Holliday has been showcased for 5 years now with the Rockies. This may or may not be part of a larger plan, that remains to be seen. But its hard to showcase a guy who was 2nd in the MVP voting in ’07.

by A'sFanInOK! on Nov 13, 2008 10:17 AM PST reply actions

Not exactly

I don’t think Holliday is just for showcasing. I think Beane looked at the team’s strengths and weaknesses, and got a great player who filled all their needs. If he does well, then they might resign him after this season, but if he does poorly, then his resume will command a lot of good players for him if they are willing to trade him.

by monta101 on Nov 13, 2008 10:46 AM PST up reply actions

im assuming at this point

you’ve gotten up to speed and realized that the A’s cannot trade him at the end of the season.
your post is kind of BobbyCrosbying any comments you make

Save Rajai Davis

by oakinboston on Nov 13, 2008 10:52 AM PST up reply actions