Pondering the A's frequent offensive struggles and their lack of right-handed hitters...

What about trading some relief pitching depth for one or two right-handed hitting corner outfielders that aren't in their respective team's plans, but would represent an upgrade to Oakland?

Here are the two deals I'm envisioning:

a.)  Trade Alan Embree to the Tigers for Ryan Raburn.   On a team chock full of big-name, big money offensive players, Raburn, 27, hasn't been able to get regular playing time.  Yet in his minor league stints the last three years, he's done very well against AAA International League pitching (stats).  Raburn's a plus defender in the corners and has even played some CF for the Tigers in a pinch.  My desire to acquire him is based on my belief (very debatable, I acknowledge) that he can be a .775 OPS guy playing for the A's for the rest of this season in a pennant chase.  

b.)  Trade Keith Foulke or the recently DFA'd Kiko Calero to the Yankees for Shelley Duncan.  Duncan, 28, is a different type of player than Raburn, but they share a few things in common; Duncan is also a right-handed hitter behind a team full of big name, big money players, and hasn't had an opportunity to play every day in the majors.  Last year he absolutely crushed minor league pitching (stats); he is arguably the best power hitter in the minor leagues.  He plays first base and also has a very good arm in right field.  Hard to discern much from his range figures here - maybe an ANer has seen him play - but I think he could be a passable corner outfielder and spell Barton at first against tough lefties, or DH if Cust is in left.  I believe (very debatable, I acknowledge) that if a major league team gave Shelley Duncan an every job and tolerated his 170 strikeouts, he'd reward them with 30 homers and an .800 OPS, even if he did get on base at a mere .310 or .320 clip.  

The names of those three relief pitchers - Foulke, Calero, and Embree - could be swapped into either deal, depending on the preference of the Tigers and Yankees, of course.  Clearly Calero is valued less than the other two. What all three have in common, though, is that they aren't a part of the next wave of Oakland A's teams - "the future" that we are all so excited about.  Foulke is a free agent after this year and will probably garner bigger money elsewhere after resuscitating his career; Embree, 38, has an option for next year but might be considering retirement after '09; Calero will be a free agent after '09, assuming he's regained his health and effectiveness and is still pitching in the league.

The point is, none of the three are in the long-term plans.  And part of what Raburn and Duncan attractive is that they both entered this season with less than a full year of major league service time.  That means the A's would have contractual control over them for this season and five years into the future, should they blossom into viable part-time or full-time major leaguers once they get a real opportunity.  Both of them could help fill our greatest organizational need on the 40-man roster - a lack of right-handed hitters with pop, specifically corner outfielders.  If even one of the two pans out long-term like Cust has, and like Hannahan has to a lesser extent, I'd consider it a success.  

Wing and Marshall could take the place of Calero and Emil Brown on the 40-man roster in this hypothetical scenario.  Behind them would be Dan Meyer and Jeff Gray.  

What do you think?