I don’t really see Branyan as a viable option. He’s 33, undoubtedly having the best year of his career this year, and hasn’t historically been anything all that special. I see why you included him, but performance and financially, I don’t think he makes a whole lot of sense.

Tejada can go away unless we believe he will play SS and Chavez will be back for 3B, and we pick up Giambi’s 2010 option to play 1B and Ellis remains healthy for 2B…

1- Looking at 2009 Giambi and 2008 Barton’s defensive numbers, there’s about a 15 run difference in favor of Barton in the field if you look at UZR/150. If Barton improves over his (BABIP fueled) 2008 numbers and can put up a ~105 wOBA+ in the bigs, ding, that’s a bit more than a slight improvement.

And you have to figure Chris Carter might bang on a few doors.

And, hopefully Buck over Cust in RF is a significant improvement on defense alone, since I think Buck can be about an average hitter, which when coupled with his defense makes him a really good player.

2- Re: your poll, I don’t think eating salary this year to get the best prospects has any bearing on next year’s payroll, since the A’s, if they were contending, would’ve paid the whole salary anyway and most likely budgeted this year to pay their salaries.

But then Stassi, Green, Dyson, Krol, and the international market are a huge deal.

My #1 FA option, over Scutaro or Tejada, would be Figgins. He’s a true leadoff hitter, can steal 40 bases, and he’s a .300 hitter, all qualities the A’s lack. And as the kicker, he can play 3B or CF. I’d put down real money to get Figgins, and then supplement with a cheaper second FA signing such as Scutaro, Kapler, etc.

FIRE GEREN! But the I would love to aquire Figgins.

Figgins has always been one of two Angels (Vlad, of course, being the other) that I’ll watch without muttering unpleasantries under my breath (when it comes to Lackey: I just shout my curses at the top of my lungs…). Bottom line: Chone would be an absolutely great pickup for the Green & Gold.

Plus, it would be cool to have an A’s jersey with “Chone” on the back. One of my kids once asked: “Why name your kid after underwear?” I helped him out with the pronunciation.

Why do you think Sweeney is a better overall option than Cameron?

You might be right, I just don’t have anything other than the conclusion to go on.

then I would push for him to be our leadoff hitter and have him play CF.

What about Ankiel to play CF? I would make DeRosa at 3B my number one FA target!

Just something different to stir up the discussion board…

(please insert your opinion in blank space provided)

I think he has an option that vests with plate appearances that will be hard not to hit if he isn’t deliberately benched for prolonged periods. His agent is Boras who has already gone public with criticism of his benching.

- I like the Tejada to 3rd base plan, possibly for anywhere between 6-8 million per year for two years. Tejada can play 3rd most of the time and can save a roster spot by also being the backup shortstop.

- This off-season I would hope the A’s aggressively look to trade for JJ Hardy. The Brewers look to be holding onto Alcides Escoboar and he’s just about big league ready, while Hardy is kind of struggling this year and will be in his final year of arbitration in 2010. The Brew Crew also needs pitching. Maybe a deal involving Henry Rodriguez, Dana Eveland (originally drafted by Brewers) and Eric Patterson for Hardy could work?

- Two free agent options I think that are being overlooked: Xavier Nady and Coco Crisp. I know both guys will be coming off significant injuries that required season-ending surgery, but the surgeries they are getting don’t really affect the main tools you’d be paying them for (Crisp is getting labrum surgery, which does not affect his range in center field nor his speed on the basepaths nor his fair ability to hit left-handed pitching – he reportedly only felt pain when hitting left-handed. Nady is getting his 2nd Tommy John surgery, but Will Carroll seems to think he’ll be fine by the end of Spring Training. He’d likely be able play mostly 1st base early in the season (where he has past experience and is a decent fielder) and then shuffle into left field a bit later on in the season. Both Crisp and Nady hit lefty-pitching pretty well relative to their positions and can be platooned to keep them fresh (Crisp can be platonned with Sweeney in center, while Nady can be platooned with Barton or Chavez at 1st). Both guys have been Beane targets in the past and would likely come discounted (like $5 million a year for each, possibly including some form of incentives).

- Chavez: I think there’s still a possibility Eric could come back next season…strictly as a 1st baseman or occasional DH and ONLY against right-handers.

- Kennedy: If Beane doesn’t flip him for something of middling value before this year’s deadline AND he continues to show that he can be a productive bat, I would like to see Beane retain him for another year to back-up 2nd and 3rd, for something like $1 million or a little less. He’d provide some veteran depth in the infield.

When all is said and done, this is how I’d like to see the offense rebuilt:

Against RHP:

1 – Sweeney (CF)
2 – Cunningham (LF)
3 – Cust (DH)
4 – Hardy (SS)
5 – Chavez/Barton (1B)
6 – Tejada (3B)
7 – Buck (RF)
8 – Suzuki ©
9 – Ellis/Kennedy (2B)

Against LHP:

1. Crisp (CF)
2. Buck (RF)
3. Nady (1B)
4. Hardy (SS)
5. Tejada (3B)
6. Cust (DH)
7. Suzuki ©
8. Ellis (2B)
9. Cunningham (LF)

This isn’t the perfect solution to all the problems this team faces, especially considering the injury histories of the parties involved, but I think that if a premium is paid on depth, this team could feature a nice blend of above-average defense (with Suzuki, Ellis/Hardy and Crisp part of the time up the middle), a solid lineup against both righties and lefties, some depth with positional flexibility, a little speed on the basepaths and even a nice blend of power/patience and free swingers from both sides of the plate.

What happens to Cardenas when he’s ready?

Good thing Bloom isn’t reading.

Is that an Excel sheet on whey protein?

He’s a typical aging vet pick-up for Beane. Here’s the free agent order I’d like to see the As front office go after:

1) Figgins—FINALLY, a true lead off hitter, and his multiple positions mean the A’s can play him wherever he is needed to not block prospects. Two of those positions, 3B and CF, are huge holes for the A’s right now.

2) Vlad—Aging (sometimes aging multiple years in the time a single person ages one) and having a down year, he’s a typical aging vet pick-up for Beane. He’s has MUCH more business in RF then Cust does (who has no business ever being in RF) and could share time with G/Cust at DH. Also, if he has anything close to a rebound year would pretty much replace Holliday’s production.

3) Tejada—Overrated by most A’s fans, before he was shown the door by Beane and went to the highest bidder he was the heart of the team, but he hasn’t shown anything close to that leadership ability since then. If we can get him on a Giambi-like deal (3.5M) lets buy low since it would keep Adrian Cardenas’ bat from being wasted at 3B and let Cardenas slide to SS, but I think a lot of the A’s fans on AN need to take off the rose colored glasses and see him for what his is—and aging, washed up, steroid user more likely to be on the decline then Giambi or Vlad. I have VERY fond memories of Tejada too guys, but for the sake of Giambi’s golden speedo, wake up and smell the leaking septic tank.

4) Beltre—Another option at 3B who’s good if the A’s can pick them up on a 1 year rental.

5) Scoot—Good 1 year option at SS, but another player over-valued by A’s fans. You take the guy away from the hitter’s park the Jay’s have and there is no reason to think he’ll be able to hit all that well again. Good for a year or less at SS until Cardenas is ready, but that’s it.

Imagine if the A’s signed Beltre, mostly to have him play against the Marinersw, and heck hes still ok. Also, Glaus is worth a gamlbe of 1-5 million