Doesn't seem to make much sense. But hey, can't really hurt, I guess.

Um...hmmm...well....

he could bring a decent haul come July.

There is already a logjam in the bullpen, whether its because of option years or guys with major league contracts already.

Even if Street is traded, there wouldn't really be room for Foulke on the roster.  

Color me confused.

do they get rid of Street and make Foulke the stop gap closer?

"I had to take the money and run."

Welcome back to the guy who was indirectly responsible for Arthur Rhodes as the A's closer in 2004.

"We need to shorten the game to...like...3 innings. Then it's Brown, Devine, Embree, Casilla, Foulke, and Street." AL West crown, here we come!!!!"

Foulke was good enough that Beane actually made a competetive offer to him before he left as a free agent. Unfortunately for us, he signed with the dreaded Red Sox, a traitorous gambit unrivalled in the history of baseball since Giambi signed with the Yankees before 2002.  The backup plan to Keith Foulke was Tom Gordon, a reliable set up man who had previous closing experience.  But Foulke dilly-dallied too long, and by the time he decided to sign with Boston, Gordon had gone to New York.  The backup to the backup plan was Arthur Rhodes, making - in my irrational mind - Foulke solely responsible for this game, the last I saw in the Coliseum before moving away to - of all places - Boston, where I had to hear about how he was the world's greatest closer during their championship run in 2004.  The worst part was having to hear how the Red Sox "discovered" him, as if saving over 40 games with the A's hadn't put him on the map.

So enjoy your retirement, Keith Foulke.  May Arthur Rhodes haunt you nightly.

link

That reputed quote after he strung the A's along only to sign with Boston didn't seem to make alot of sense then since the A's were contenders (although Foulke did  get on the 2004 World Series winner)....but now it's obviously not his concern.

I was reading on MLB Trade Rumors that Foulke was throwing in the 81-84 mph range...

i was so mad at him after '03 and the running-to-the-red-sox thing. that won't be forgotten too easily.

she writes that the A's have announced their signing Foulke (some might say five years too late)

a post that was titled something like Foulke You, You Foulking Foulke after he signed with the Sox.  It was probably because he was truly a great sight to see coming into the game when he was here.  Especially after the roller coaster rides that Izzy and Koch always seemed to be.

Regardless, he's another temporary player in a transitional season.  The good news is that is he's healthy, the A's could easily deal Street now knowing that they have another option in the pen to at least take his place.  Or they could flip Foulke to a contending team if he proves his value.  

the deal is for $700,000 with incentives that could boost it to $2.5 million.

Also, I'm sad to see so many people here aren't Foulke fans. As someone who has brought signs to baseball games, I feel like my best one was "Foulke You, KW. Koch Blows (Saves)." Held it up as Foulke was coming to the visitors bullpen at Comiskey in 2003. It got a laugh out of him.

I really don't see how this is a bad deal. Even if Foulke doesn't have it anymore, it's worth the $700,000. And if he's good, he's definitely mid-season trade bait.

*Too bad that during his year away from the game, Foulke wasn't taking his Sammy Sosa/Troy Percival year-away-from-the-game cocktails that don't get tested for when you "retire". (Why do you think Roger Clemens started giving himself 8 month offseasons the last few years?)

*I DO think Mariners have to at least be considered potential contenders. We've been saying for two-plus years now that the Angels are a Vlad back injury away from being quite vulnerable. At this point, the Mariners would be the obvious beneficiaries of that (mis)fortune, while the Rangers and A's have plotted different courses.

Two huge IFs, and I recognize their implausibility:

1. IF the Mariners signed Bonds and planted him at DH, then platooned Vidro/Sexson at first to maximize their health and contribution, and

2. IF Vlad does finally break down...

...a 90-win Mariners season and a playoff berth are not hard for me to fathom at all.

I think the M's had to do Bedard. Bavasi doesn't have Billy Beane-like job security; that forces his hand. He's gotta win soon, so he might as well go for broke, otherwise he'll be watching the team from his couch in two years anyway.

Secondly, their entire franchise and fan base would be kicking themselves if the Angels tanked and yet still were allowed to win the division with an NL Central-esque 85 wins.  That's could've happened if the Mariners had stood pat this offseason.  

Somebody had to at least make the Angels break a sweat to get into the playoffs.

(And I also think that Beane forsaw the M's going for broke four months ago, and that factored into his decision to rebuild. I think he knew that if he stood pat he'd end up the 3rd best team on paper, and that's much, much different than being #2 on paper. The #2 team only needs one other team to suffer bad luck to sweep in there).

too, since the opportunity to win multiple championships (oh...and the money helped too!) were the reasons he joined the GIANTS of all teams.  Maybe he was high at the time?

At least Foulke joined a good team and isn't a liar.

I really hope this isn't a precursor to a Huston Street or Alan Embree trade. I've never been very high on Keith Foulke. Hopefully this is just going to be a deal that involves us selling high at the trade deadline. Assuming, that is, that he actually pitches well.

take this for example, from the A's website:

"It came to who made the best offer, and would give me the best chance to succeed early in the season," he said. "Oakland has succeeded with, probably, less talent. That's their benchmark; it's how they do things. It's a great place to play."

Forst also says that Foulke topped out at 85 mph