If you could sign 2 of our 4 free agent hitters, which ones would they be?
by tjmacari on Aug 25, 2011 11:09 PM PDT
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PrintOur boys in green and gold are getting a jump start on next year right now. The waiver trading deadline is August 31st, and Crisp, Willingham, Matsui, and DeJesus are free agents (to say that many of you know this would be an understatement).
I must admit that I have undersold Crisp this season, and his 4-for-4 game reminds me that he isn't afraid of the big stage, he has playoff experience, is capable of hitting a home run, leads the league in stolen bases, patrols a great CF, and has a T-Rex arm weaker than my wife and the COED softball field. I think he also enjoys being on the A's, and has shown that he would sign a free agent contract with us (as evidenced 2 years ago).
Willingham is a no-brainer. We need right-handed pop and his injury history makes him affordable. He also ACTUALLY LIKES PLAYING FOR THE A'S.
I can say goodbye to Matsui and especially DeJesus (the biggest acquisition bust in recent memory). The A's have some potential swingers in AAA (in all senses of the word I'm sure - Taylor, Carter, and Miller), and a solid OFer in Sweeney, who will play good D and hit a solid .285 for you.
I'd be excited to see something like this next season under Bob Melvin:
1 Jemile Weeks, 2B
2 Coco Crisp, CF
3 Brandon Allen, 1B (He's shown he can mash in NY, and you know what Frank Sinatra says about NY)
4 Josh Willingham, LF
5 (GIVE ME ANOTHER FREE AGENT PLEASE, OR TRADE THE FARM FOR A STUD), 3B
6 Michael Taylor, RF
7 Chris Carter, DH
8 Suzuki / Recker, C
9 Cliff Pennington, SS
For christmas I want Willingham, Crisp, and a 3Bman. Sizemore kills Lefty's I'll even take a lefty 3Bman that can platoon vs Righties! (Eric Chavez is my favorite player, but no I need someone who can give me more than 50 AB's!)
Tom
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Willingham for sure.
I’d pass on Matsui and Crisp. Although Pennington not a free agent, I think we have to look for a more consistent hitting shortstop as well.
The greenmachine
I really hope he isn't
We yet enjoy little to be envied, but endure much to be pitied.-Thomas Dudley
If I could keep any two?
Willingham and Crisp. Crisp because I don’t trust full time CF duties to Sweeney.
I trust Sweeney in Center but Crisp gives us attitude that Sweeney does not
So, Willingham and Crisp but I’m growing fonder of Matsui as time rolls on, oddly enough because of his play in LF.
Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?
Fine,
but you can also be fond of him in another uni.
Re-sign Josh Willingham now!
by sf drift king on Aug 27, 2011 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions
If by "attitude"
you mean the ability to have more pop in his bat than a sixth-grader, then I agree Crisp brings more attitude.
"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico
actually probably my real answer
We can’t expect the A’s to be good next year, so saving some payroll and putting that money in the draft is a good idea.
maybe not likely
Saving money on payroll might not be likely as the A’s need to be conscious of MLB’s and players associations “urging” about cutting payroll if receiving revenue sharing monies. Also, over slot spending in the draft will upset the Commissioners office whose help is needed in any possible relocation or new stadium.
In short I expect to see next years money spent on mediocre free agents and signable draft choices.
by kimo from kauai on Aug 27, 2011 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions
If we don't resign any of them
the A’s will probably be a 100-loss team next year.
"PECOTA can pretty much kiss my ass."-Nico
I disagree with your premise that DDJ was an acquisiton bust
He hasn’t performed up to his career standards, but his defense has been good and the centerpiece of what we gave up (Mazzaro) was unequivocably a bust.
I honestly could go either way between him and Coco, except, like DDroney, I’m not sure I trust fulltime CF to Sweeney. But we could likely sign DDJ for a bit less and free up some money for the draft.
Don't you realise you'll find next monday or next Tuesday/Your golden shoes day
by PDXAthleticsfan on Aug 26, 2011 8:36 AM PDT reply actions
Justin Marks hasn't lit the world on fire either.
Being wrong about something you’ve worked on is a blessing, not a curse, and people are so invested in being right that that gets lost. —Graham MacAree
Yeah, was going to mention that,
but it seems like his K, BB, and HR rate are decent enough, and I don’t know shit about the Carolina league to know if it’s offense-friendly, but my guess is his ERA is at least in part due to poor minor league defense based on his peripherals.
Not that he won’t flame out upon moving up a level or two. I still think Beane won the trade, at least as far as I believe trades are won/lost.
Don't you realise you'll find next monday or next Tuesday/Your golden shoes day
by PDXAthleticsfan on Aug 26, 2011 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions
He hasn't flamed out, but
he hasn’t shown any signs of special promise either. So I guess he’s still a lottery ticket that might pay off but probably won’t.
Being wrong about something you’ve worked on is a blessing, not a curse, and people are so invested in being right that that gets lost. —Graham MacAree
DDJ
ya know, I wouldn’t mind if the A’s offered him a contract to return next season. He’s had an off yr, but he’s a proven hitter and an above avg OF. We could probably re-sign him to a fairly inexpensive contract.
Re-sign Josh Willingham now!
by sf drift king on Aug 27, 2011 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions
DDJ is pretty solidly a type B right now
Might not matter that much though if we don’t offer him arb.
Sigh. I hope beyond hope the 3-4-5-6 hitters are capable of any offensive talent
Your post clarifies again the gaping hole this team has in middle of the order production.
3 Brandon Allen, 1B (unproven)
4 Josh Willingham, LF (solid, but he’s no All-Star)
5 (Par for the course, again we hope for the mythical gap-filling power hitting FA)
6 Michael Taylor, RF (stud or dud, or most probably mediocre)
lineup
weeks
penny
coco
free agaent DH/ LF
hammer
ballin’
free agent 3B
sweeney / taylor/ miller experiment
suzuki/ recker
by gratefuldude on Aug 26, 2011 9:46 PM PDT up reply actions
here are my choices:
position players: Willingham, Crisp. If only one, then Willingham.
pitchers: Harden (one year, incentive laden). And they need to tender a contract to Brandon McCarthy to prevent him from becoming a free agent and signing elsewhere. Neither pitcher can be counted on for a full 200+ inning season. However, both can be managed in such a way as to get at least half a season, if not more. You can’t have too many starters. A’s can’t reasonably expect Anderson or Braden next year.
So, if we tender McCarthy, we automatically keep him?
Can see OF/DH mix of Willingham, Crisp, Sweeney, Matsui and Taylor/Miller. Happy with Penny, Weeks and Allen (thus far). Sizemore is an improvement but not what we will need at the hot corner offensively to get us where we need to be. Ditto at C but there’s not likely a lot better to be had at that position.
Hey dad, I got this guy's autograph, Rollie
Fingers. Who's he?
yes, "tendering" offers him a contract. if he accepts, fine
if not, keep negotiating or go to arbitration.
McCarthy has to accept arbitration
2012 will be his final season of team control. Willingham/Crisp/DDJ/Matsui don’t have to accept arb, which will lead to us getting draft picks if they sign major league deals with another club.
John 3:16
"If they want to pay me like Mike Gallego, I’ll play like Gallego." - Rickey Henderson
you mean, McCarthy either accepts the offer that the A's tender in December
(assuming they do, and I think they should), or he suggests an amount that he prefers. If they don’t come to an agreement then they have to go to arbitration. However, the A’s almost never go to arbitration with players, which I think is a good thing.
Definitely tender McCarthy a contract
I’m on the fence with Harden; he’ll likely accept an incent laden contract because he loves the Bay Area. Crisp also wants to stay in CA; would re-sign him and Willingham.
Sizemore, as good as he’s been, I’d rather not go into next season with him as our starting 3B. Not sure who’s available, but we need to sign a FA 3B or DH preferably the former. I’d roll the dice with Carter at DH.
Re-sign Josh Willingham now!
by sf drift king on Aug 27, 2011 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions
My wishlist:
Josh Zimmerman or David Wright.
Re-sign Josh Willingham now!
by sf drift king on Aug 27, 2011 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Free agents! Free Agents! We can't sign no stinkin' Free agents!
I’d keep willingham.
Pretty much meh about crisp. Won’t make a difference either way whether we use crisp or Sweeney in center field.
Good luck attracting a decent 3B free agent to the Mausoleum. Best to bring a bunch of 3B types to camp and see who has a good spring. It might be sizemore, cardenas, parker? Sizemore is better than Hanahan and Adam Kennedy.
Willingham or Carter DH or LF.
I agree go with Taylor, and if he busts after 100 AB, then have Jackson in the fold. In that case, maybe we should sign Crisp, and have Sweeney available to take over a failing Taylor.
If Taylor, Carter, Weeks, Allen perform well, and our pitching avoid Dr. Jobe and Andrews, we will be competitive.
I’m fine with Pennington. Suzuki needs to be platooned more.
I'd sign Willingham.
Twice.
Someday her tombstone will read,
"Here Lies MissOakland Barton. Hot baseball wife, beloved friend, defender of aprons." --Kyli
Can we go by looks?
If so, Conor Jackson and Josh Willingham.
If not by looks, Willingham and Matsui.
"We get two outs, and I was sure, and I had a plan, and I shook Tek off," Schilling said. "And I get a big 'What if?' for the rest of my life."
by Imaseasonticketholder on Aug 27, 2011 2:11 PM PDT reply actions
If this question had been asked last month, I would have gone with Ham and DDJ.
But Coco has picked his play up lately, and I like the thought of Coco and Weeks at the top of the order. So my answer would be Ham and Coco, but I wouldn’t mind if we kept DDJ (cheaply) as a backup. Matsui’s had a great career, but we have no room for him in 2012.
by player20 on Aug 30, 2011 11:55 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
If you want a free agent 3B, go for Aramis Ramirez
He’s by far the best 3B on the market, assuming his option isn’t picked up
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