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Trevor Cahill and Craig Breslow Traded to Arizona for Jarrod Parker, Collin Cowgill, Ryan Cook

The A's traded Trevor Cahill and Craig Breslow to the Diamondbacks today for Jarrod Parker, Collin Cowgill, and Ryan Cook. It is official, tweets Slusser.

For the record, Parker and Cahill are about 9 months apart in terms of age and are under team control for the next 6 years, though Cahill will be more expensive. Parker missed all of 2010 after having Tommy John surgery, but regained his form and pitched in the majors last September. He has been a perennial top 50 prospect in all of MLB ever since he was drafted 9th overall in 2007. He made a relief appearance in last year's NLDS against Milwaukee. It is entirely possible he is in the Opening Day rotation.

Cowgill was drafted by the A's in 2007, didn't sign, and then was drafted by Arizona in the 5th round in 2008. Billy Beane evidently covets him, and he got his man. Cowgill is a small outfielder who put up good numbers in the PCL last year, but he will be 26 next season. He has a career .299/.383/.490 line in 360 minor league games. It is entirely possible he is a starting corner outfielder for the 2012 A's.

As for Trevor, he could be maddening with his lack of control, but his stuff is off the charts. He really does have one of the best sinkers in baseball and Arizona is lucky to have him. He will be 24 on Opening Day.

I'm gonna say now I'm not a fan of this trade. This is roughly 60% of what I think Cahill is worth. Cowgill and Cook look like "stuff" to me. Parker is a stud and could be better than Cahill as early as 2012, but he's simply not enough for 6 years of Trevor Cahill. I'm sure Jarrod is a super cool dude that I will enjoy watching for the next few years, but this trade slants toward the Dbacks favor in my view. I think Cahill and Parker are lateral in terms of potential, but hey, Parker is new! At least he'll be fun to watch next year. I'm disappointed that the A's didn't grab one more potential all-star in this deal.

Here's hoping Parker is more Dan Haren than he is Sean Gallagher.

Kevin Goldstein disagrees with me, though:

Really good trade for A's. Peak lines up better with window, Cahill good but overrated.

Jarrod Parker tweeted this:

On to the next chapter...

Welcome the Jarrod Parker era in Oakland. I just wish there was a lot more to go with it.