FanPost

What do we really have? Can we compete next year?

First long post.

Before the season, I know Billy Beane was talking about this being a transition season and that he was building a team for 2013 or 2014, possibly with a new ballpark in mind. I am just curious if there will be trades in the next month designed to help that process. What would we need for next year? I am making the following assumptions/needs on building a team.

#1 Starting rotation with 5 starters is most important

#2 Good defensive core at C, SS, CF appears to be important to A's

#3 Need at least average hitters at all positions given that pitching would appear to be strength.

Tentatively, this would seem to be what we have for the next two years.

#1 Starter - Jarrod Parker

#2 Starter - Brett Anderson

#3 Starter - Dallas Braden?

#4 Starter - Tommy Millone

#5 Starter - some combo of Griffin, Peacock, others

Beane always seems to sort out a bullpen so not worried about that. Cook seems like a closer for the next few years.

Catcher - is Norris a viable defensive MLB catcher?

1b -

2b - Weeks, assuming he continues to improve in the second half, his minor league numbers and last season suggest he is good enough

3b -

SS - Pennington, this would seem to be a position where the A's are below average and just willing to go with a good defensive player. Has anyone seen Grant Green play SS, is there something the A's know.

LF - Cespedes, good enough hitter, can he actually play CF?

CF

RF - Reddick

It would seem to me if the A's are really building for next year, we will see trades in the next few weeks involving McCarthy, Colon, Gomes, Smith, maybe Blevins, Balfour and the areas you would want to see back are younger, under-control 3b, 1b, CF, maybe SS who are proven at least average ML hitters. If they believe in Michael Choice or Grant Green, that may change things.

Arsene