No, not a projection, but it is Rosterbation. The question is; what should the A's do right now as regard to the team. We are currently enthralled in a battle with the Angels, 3.5 games back. Both teams have good pitching, both teams have bad hitting, but the Angels offense has been better than ours and that has been the difference in the standings.

It is obvious that we need to improve the lineup, and who knows when Frank Thomas will come back, or if he will need to be rehabbed in Sacramento for a time before then. The A's appear to have a sizable chunk of change available due to the huge drop in payroll, but at the same time, that money appears to have been earmarked for draft picks and international free agents, as seen by the expected signing of Inoa for $4.25 million.

Likewise, if we do make a deal and trade for offense, we will have to sacrafice something in return, being either money, prospects or both. And the question is if we can have a good enough offense this year, if the pitching can continue to be stellar, can we make the playoffs and win the World Series this year, and would it be worth partially scrapping or hurting the reubuilding project by doing so?

As I see it, there are four sides in this discussion.

1) Improve the Team - The A's need offense like Cher needs Hair. If we make the trades nessisary and bring in poeple like Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Brian Giles, Aubrey Huff, ect... the offense immidietly improves and we become a force to be reconed with.

2) Continue Building - This year was supposed to be a rebuilding year anyways, and we should not hinder that. We might be doing good, but its smoke and mirrors. We should deal away our overvallued/temporarly healthy talent and convert Duchscherer and Harden into massive prospect deals that will make 2010 and beyond look like the 1970's.

3) Improve but Not Prospects - Improve the team yes, make the trades that will bring in talent but only at a cost of money or low grade prospects, and not any of our core prospects in the minors that figure to be a key part of our future. After all, Duke, Harden and Blanton won't be here anymore by 2010 will they? Who takes over the rest of the rotation? And we already have enough problems on offense.

4) Improve but Not Money - The team is currently using that money to get those draft picks and international free agents that they need. Save that money for the Inoas, Hunters, Smoaks, and Leons of the world instead of wasting millions on Brian Giles. Make trades, but only if they help for the future and don't cost a lot of money, even if it means dealing some of our excess prospect depth at positions of stregnth.

So what do we do folks? Who do we target. As I said above, I think Jason Bay, Xavier Nady, Brian Giles and Aubrey Huff would be nice acquisitions, especially Jason Bay, as he is cheap and plays all three outfield positions if needed. Acquiring two of them, a 1B and an OF would instantly help us for the future. If Cleveland is going to tear it up, could we grab Grady Sizemore? Do we want Adrian Beltre if the Mariners are willing? Do we pay the price for Halliday from Colorado? Do we want Jack Cust's younger brother, Adam Dunn?

Because remember that right now, the A's are near or at the bottom of baseball on the offensive side of things. If that doesn't change, it won't matter what the pitching side does.