So, for the past three months, all we have read about was that Lew Wolff and Billy Beane knew that there team needed to improve the offense and that they were pulling up the Brinks truck to the Coliseum to do so. 

So, for the past three months, all we have read about was that Lew Wolff and Billy Beane knew that there team needed to improve the offense and that they were pulling up the Brinks truck to the Coliseum to do so. So, for the past three months, all we have read about was that Lew Wolff and Billy Beane knew that there team needed to improve the offense and that they were pulling up the Brinks truck to the Coliseum to do so. 

What have we got so far?

We have dumped nearly 8 million in Salaries on 3 players (Street - 3.3 mil, Embree - 3.1 Mil, E. Brown - 1.4 Million) and another 2-3 Million with players like Gonzales, Smith, Frank Thomas, Foulke.

In return we get Holliday for $13.5 million...and...

God, I hope Billy Beane has alot more planned than this.   Even with Giambi or Abreu, that is a little bit of an upgrade to the offense..but only for one season...assuming the A's don't trade Holliday in July.

What this team is lacking, and the attendance proves this, is a couple of long-term, lynch-pin offensive players.    Right now the team is a group of "could be's", "will be's", and "shouldn't be's".  While they might be or will be serviceable major-leaguers, none of them really inspire people to want to pay for a ticket, or even want to watch on TV.  There is no identity to this offense, and we have serious A's fans that are having a tough time identifying with the players - let alone the average sports fan in the Bay Area. 

I understand the need to trade pieces to develop the team for the long-term, but the GM also is responsible for putting a team on the field that can either generate wins...or at least some excitement and entertainment. 

At the start of the off-season, after going through a season watching the A's dump most of their starting rotation (along with over 10 Million in Salary), I was genuinely excited to hear that the A's wanted to spend some money. 

I just didn't think it would be on one player for half a season and another aging semi-star that will be around for a year or maybe two.  

I expected much more out of this off-season....luckily there are still alot of players still on the market, and trades can still be made.