11:49 a.m. — Astros willing to move Tejada

by Yourmyboyblue on Dec 9, 2008 8:38 AM PST

11:49 a.m. — Astros willing to move Tejada

The Astros are "barely" listening to offers for closer Jose Valverde, according to a major-league source, who said "he's about the last guy they want to move."

Shortstop Miguel Tejada is another story. The Astros are willing to trade him, and are drawing interest from several teams, including some with openings at both shortstop and third base. The Twins are one team that fits that description.

Tejada is guaranteed $13 million next season and the Astros recognize that they would need to assume a portion of that salary in any trade. The Giants and Angels are among the other teams that could have interest.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8912072/MLB-winter-meetings:-Monday-news-and-notes

Will the A's make an offer for Miggy Magic? You know he would love to come back. What do the Astros’s want in return?

Could this be the return of Giambi and Miggy, to bad this is not five years ago.

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Comments

I think I just heard Furcal "ahh give me a break!" On this announcement.

by Yourmyboyblue on Dec 9, 2008 8:43 AM PST reply actions

I think this is old news.

I just don’t see the Twins getting him. They haven’t done anything like this in years.

"I'm not going to buy my kids an encyclopedia. Let them walk to school like I did." -Yogi Berra

by brenarlo on Dec 9, 2008 8:50 AM PST reply actions

I love Miggy, but unless he's still able to produce

I don’t think it would be a good idea.

I am not a Giambi fan. however, if he was able to produce (in the coliseum, not with the Yankee short porch), I wouldn’t oppose a one year deal. However, he is reportedly seeking three years guaranteed, which should be out of the quesiton.

by OaklandSi on Dec 9, 2008 9:18 AM PST reply actions

This may or may not be a popular opinion here but.....

I’m just not excited about the whole prospect of acquiring Tejada. I don’t see his production being worth the cost in terms of money and/or prospects. I’ve also started to sour to the whole Furcal option as well. It seems to me that the A’s, at this point, should either let Crosby play out his contract year or fill the shortstop hole internally with someone already part of the organization. Preferrably Gregorio Petit.

As much as I love the idea of acquiring A. Cabrera or Y. Escobar, I’m not sure either one could be had without parting with either Cahill or Anderson. In my opinion, trading our top two prospects should not be an option. Does anyone here think we have a remote chance of landing either of these guys without including either Cahill or Anderson? Also, how does everyone feel about guys like Reid Brignac and Jason Donald? Of all the options out there, I would like to know more about what it would actually take to acquire Donald since he is blocked at the ML level. Also, he is probably a year or two out, meaning that the team could just live with Crosby or sign someone to a one or two year contract until he is ready.

by AEP2007 on Dec 9, 2008 9:20 AM PST reply actions

Why isn't trading one of the top two prospects an option?

Doing so will fill an important position with a young, cost-controlled player for five (Escobar) or even (not 100% sure about this one for Asdrubal) six seasons.

It’s possible that the guy you trade will end up being better than the guy you get back, but it’s not very likely…

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Dec 9, 2008 9:48 AM PST up reply actions

I still think Asdrubal would be attainable without one of Anderson/Cahill going to Cleveland.

by mikev on Dec 9, 2008 9:54 AM PST up reply actions

Trading Prospects for "Prospects"

I like the idea of dealing one of our pitching prospects for Asdrubal or Yunel.

Don’t think we’d be able to get Yunel for Cahill or Anderson (in a one-for-one swap)… Yunel has shown the ability to play at the MLB level, Anderson and Cahill have not (yet), and the Braves aren’t looking for a future prospect if they’re dealing Yunel. As for Asdrubal, we may be able to grab him for one of our top pitching prospects… that’s an option I’d certainly consider. Not sure what Shapiro’s asking price is for Asdrubal. I certainly think getting five years of Asdrubal for six of, say, Anderson is worth it given the absolute HOLE we have a shortstop right now.

Like many others, I’ve soured on the outside options. I was all for signing Furcal a few days ago, but the more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion that the upgrade from Crosby/Pennington/Petit to Furcal is not worth the amount of money we’d have to lock into Furcal, especially with the bargain basement prices on much bigger bats (Dunn, Burrell, etc.).

So, I think we should either deal a pitching prospect for Asdrubal or fill our SS position from within (Croz, Petit, or Pennington), then use the $$$ we don’t spend on Furcal to buy a big bat (Dunn), and use whatever we have left to spend on pitching (Randy Johnson).

by Uncle Charlie on Dec 9, 2008 9:59 AM PST up reply actions

Actually the money for Furcal would be worth it.

It’s been gone over before, but Furcal represents about a 2.5 win upgrade over Crosby. The generally accepted figure is 1 win is worth $5M, so a 2.5 win upgrade would be “worth” $12.5M per season, give or take.

by mikev on Dec 9, 2008 10:11 AM PST up reply actions

You know what's awesome?

Part One: Beane in complete control, giving Furcal 48 hours to take it or leave it.

Part Two: Watching Sabathia play the mighty Yankees, makin’ ’em look like one of the last kids to be chosen in a pick-up game “Pleeeease, pleeeeeeese pick me, pickmepickme pick meeeee!”

Or, supply your own simile! Anyway, it’s awesome.

Let's Go Fremont! clap clap clapclapclap

by SF Geoff on Dec 9, 2008 11:19 AM PST up reply actions

The thing that scares me about Furcal

is the whole back injury issue. I know the health vs. potential payoff has been debated repeatedly here on AN. However, the more I think about the very real possibility of having yet another shortstop who is on the DL more than on the field over the next 3-4 years, the more I think that the risk may not be worth it.

I keep going back and forth on the Furcal issue. If you ask me tommorrow, i might be for the A’s signing him. At this point, I just have alot of concerns. Keep in mind, the A’s haven’t exactly been the picture of health the past few seasons. Whether this is because the A’s are unlucky or because of the staff is unknown. Bringing a player in with a recent history of a back injury and expecting him to be healthy enough to justify spending that much money is extremely optimistic at best.

by AEP2007 on Dec 9, 2008 11:36 AM PST up reply actions

He could be a 2.5 win upgrade or he could be a 0 win upgrade if he's on the DL

or plays while Kotsay healthy

It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver

by WaddellCanseco on Dec 9, 2008 9:28 PM PST up reply actions

The way I see it

they are the core of the talent in the minor leagues. Trading them would severely hurt our projected rotation for 2010 and beyond. Finding front of the rotation pitchers that aren’t making an obscene amount of money isn’t easy to come by. That being said, if the A’s were able to drop huge amounts of money on the big name free agent pitchers without crippling the franchise, it wouldn’t be as much of an issue. I guess it boils down to a matter of preference. I personally would rather have a potential all-star pitcher than a potential all-star shortstop.

by AEP2007 on Dec 9, 2008 11:27 AM PST up reply actions

Why?

Finding front-of-the-lineup shortstops who aren’t making an obscene amount of money isn’t easy to come by either. And the A’s system has a ton of high-upside pitching talent and very little shortstop talent outside of rookie ball.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Dec 9, 2008 12:25 PM PST up reply actions

True

I’m not arguing necessarily that i’m right. It’s just my opinion on the issue.
I may very well be the only person on AN that wouldn’t trade Cahill or Anderson straight up for Escobar. Don’t get me wrong, i would love to have Escobar on the A’s, but trading either one of these two will hurt the 2010-2012 rotation significantly (barring unforeseen free agent signings). I agree that the team does have quite a few nice arms in the minors, but they are considerably lower than Cahill or Anderson. Guys like Leon and Inoa are almost assuredly 2-4 years away at best. Do we really want to rely on guys like Mazzarro and Simmons? I can see Simmons being an extra-lite version of Joe Blanton, which is valuable, but I would like to see another season out of Mazzarro before having that much faith in him.

by AEP2007 on Dec 9, 2008 12:58 PM PST up reply actions

Agree 100%

I gotta believe that Seattle would demand some of our top talent for Escobar. They’re not going to get fleeced within their own division (perchance to dream), AND they need pitching badly. Wakamatsu knows what we’ve got.

Let's Go Fremont! clap clap clapclapclap

by SF Geoff on Dec 9, 2008 11:44 AM PST up reply actions

100% with PT, I mean

Beane can’t ALWAYS be the maestro, AEP2007. You gotta give to get, sometimes. I totally smell what you’re steppin’ in, though.

Let's Go Fremont! clap clap clapclapclap

by SF Geoff on Dec 9, 2008 11:48 AM PST up reply actions

Escobar plays for Atlanta...

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Dec 9, 2008 12:26 PM PST up reply actions

Which does weaken Seattle's position considerably.

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 9, 2008 1:51 PM PST up reply actions

Heh, guess I brought some extra letters

Presto- Yunel becomes Yuniesky (I guess). Wonder whay I can turn Bobby Crosby into….Just get a damn shortstop, Billy.

Let's Go Fremont! clap clap clapclapclap

by SF Geoff on Dec 9, 2008 8:20 PM PST up reply actions

What's amusing about that

is that Yunel is probably a top 3 shortstop, and Yuniesky is probably a bottom 3 shortstop… only thing they have in common is that they’re Cuban.

Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.

by PaulThomas on Dec 9, 2008 9:48 PM PST up reply actions

cigars would make me feel slightly better about Crosby as our 2009 SS

'That's something we do...thirteen hits and not score'-Terrence Long

by DyeLongJustice on Dec 10, 2008 4:49 PM PST up reply actions

Miguel

I don’t want Miguel back. I loved Miguel when he was here. I still love Miguel as a player. But, he’s simply not as productive as he was during his MVP days. If he puts up better than a 350 OBP and 440 SLG next year, I’ll be shocked. Those are decent numbers, but not worth spending a lot of money on, and not worth forestalling other plans for…

by Uncle Charlie on Dec 9, 2008 10:01 AM PST up reply actions

astros

would pick up a lot of his salary

Cust is the new Jaha.

by johnjahafanclub on Dec 9, 2008 10:57 AM PST up reply actions

Tejada costs, what, about $8 mil more than Crosby?

I’m not a big Tejada fan because I think he’s declining pretty quickly, but I think he’s worth that cost difference. As long as he wouldn’t require too much in the way of prospects. The money difference (assuming acquiring Tejada means trading Crosby somewere) is actually not a big deal.

by thejd44 on Dec 9, 2008 11:45 AM PST reply actions

I LOVE Tejada

He’s always been my favorite player, so any discussion I will have about him will be irrational. And if the A’s were able to get Tejada for a guy like Crosby and the A’s take on the rest of the salary, I would do it.

I have a feeling that Miggy would rebound in Oakland and the intangibles he would bring are off the charts (we’d even get the old buh-buh-buhda-buh-buh- buhdada-buh-buh-buh-buhda TEJADA! drum chant back!). And it would only be for one year, so even if Miggy doesn’t do well, he’s gone in ‘09 (or at least cheaper if he wants to re-sign). Plus, he’d bring back a lot of the old excitement from fans from the early 2000’s and pay for part of his salary. Tejada is a name

"Loyal? I'm the most loyal player money can buy." - Don Sutton

by vignette17 on Dec 9, 2008 2:16 PM PST reply actions

Exactly - he'd hit better than Crosby,

he wouldn’t field worse, and he’d bring joy and unicorns to the clubhouse. What’s not to love? And don’t give me any of those new-fangled numbers, like stats, and age, and salary. Unicorns, people.

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 9, 2008 5:48 PM PST up reply actions