we know beane will put Rajai Deais on the roster for the right price… so if hoffman comes cheap enough he can be a mentor to the young bullpen. Also, he would be close to home(relatively)

Why would he be a bargain?

At this point, unless Beane pulls several proverbial rabbits out of hat/aces out of his sleeve, I’d be inclined to stock up on as many bargain-priced free agents and buy-low trades as possible, irrespective of position or roster needs—and then hold a fire sale in July.

Though the situation wasn’t handled particularly gracefully, the team did leave an offer on the table for more than one month without an answer from their closer.

Hoffman did ask for a meeting with owner John Moores, which the team appeared to grant as long as Hoffman’s agent was not there. The idea was to ensure the request was not an end run around team management and an attempt to use the personal feelings Moores and convince the owner to make a poor business decision. Which incidentally is exactly why Moores hired Sandy Alderson in the first place, so Moores wouldn’t be tempted to interfere with baseball operations.

Alderson also stated that the $4 million dollar deal on the table was negotiable, my guess is could have gone into the $6-$7 million dollar range, with a vesting second year option. Of course, the deal would also include a wink wink guaranteed closer gig, and all the benefits Trevor would receive by continuing his career in San Diego.

While not impossible, I think it’s highly unlikely another team will beat that offer, at least by enough of a margin to make it worth Hoffman’s while to leave. And that isn’t because he’s been “forgotten”, but more along the lines is due to his poor performance the past few years in situations on a national scale, among other things.

…to devote the next several weeks of my life to speculating about Hoffman, I’m game.

Something’s got to fill the hole left by Furcal.

Then, we can start talking about Trevor Hoffman.
For some reason, I just can’t get excited about adding him to the 2009 roster right this moment.

“Daddy, I want a brand new shiny shortstop for Christmas! Do you think Santa Beane is listening?”.

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cabrera 2yr/ 12mil?

Apparently, we suck unless we get a new stadium.

The A’s McAfee Blues

Upon learning that free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal was headed to the Braves, one prominent agent expressed sympathy for A’s general manager Billy Beane and assistant GM David Forst, saying that they face an uphill fight trying to attract free agents to Oakland.

The A’s rarely are major players in free agency, but the agent said that the poor working conditions and occasionally unruly crowd behavior at McAfee Coliseum are turnoffs for his clients.

“Many players are uncertain about the atmosphere,” the agent said. “They’re not as comfortable going to work there or having their families attend games there on a regular basis.”

In 2012, the A’s are scheduled to move into Cisco Field, which will be located approximately 20 miles south of McAfee in Fremont, Calif.

“That will help them recruit players,” the agent said. “Billy and David are as good as anyone in the business. The new park will level the playing field for them and allow them to excel.”

I think the A’s should pursue a SP and another quality bat…I won’t mention BB…it gets folks too riled up.

Rocco Baldelli just got a killer Christmas present

link

But it seems a bit heavy as a gift idea.

would love it if they signed the Big Unit. I’m actually hoping for it.

I think Billy Beane knew all along that Furcal was never intending to come here. I think he met with Furcal in a posturing move to get Atlanta or the Dodgers to get him there in order to get them to free up Escobar or Johnson or Hu. There is no way Crosby is our SS next year. I also think Beane undervalues closers and will just have a closer by committee with Devine/Ziggy/Blevins. That’s just my little theory. Other free agents have had no problem signing here. See Frank Thomas/Esteban Loiaza/Mike Piazza. What do you all think of this theory?