Sanders will get that slow transition start. He's slumping right now, and its more likely he will follow the Kotsay/Kendall first month or two slump then the mid-season trade play.

That being said, if they traded for Sanders, it would be a short term fix for a long term problem - but technically, the long term problem doesn't really even exist. While Sanders could [could, not would] bring better power numbers to the A's for this year, most likely he won't be playing professionally for that much longer - do we really want to pick up his paycheck for the time being?

We are all counting on the players hitting better as a team still, right? Or are we so desperate for results NOW? Honestly, Sanders' numbers don't look that hot to me; Byrnes is certainly capable of putting out similar, or even better, stats. Making this trade would definitely upset fans, especially since Byrnes, as streaky and as unpredictable as he is, is quite an eccentric character. I think many fans have a love/hate relationship with him while feeling indifferent about other players.

Plus, two words: Learning. Curve.

Has anyone noticed that the teams Sanders plays for get to the world series? obviously, it's not all due to him (perhaps he's got some playoff karma or something?). My guess is that he is also good with the other players in a variety of ways.

If he comes cheaply, why not?

By the way, how would Kearns (who is currently batting in the los .200 and is rarely healthy) help the club now? His "potential" (love that one!) for the future might be high -- but if all we are concerned right now is the future, we shouldn't be crying over the A's offensive woes.

(please no one dispute this in case george is reading)

There are two kinds of problems--fundamental flaws and aberrations. The A's bullpen last year was a fundamental flaw, which is why Beane addressed it early. Kendall and Chavy's hitting problems will largely self-correct.

The A's RISP hitting woes are self-correcting aberrations that need to be ignored. The lack of a RH power threat in the middle of the order is a fundamental flaw, which needs to be addressed.

Getting Sanders would improve the lineup a tad, but fail to solve the problem, IMO. If I'm a righty pitcher, I'll pitch around Chavy or Durazo and pitch to Sanders. Sometimes he'll burn you, sometimes he'll strike out; I'll take my chances. But I wouldn't want to put another guy on base ahead of Paul Konerko, or Vernon Wells, or Pedro Feliz, too often.

Big difference, one move to make. My request: do nothing or else really solve the problem.

You move Dotel, and suddenly a good pen looks vulnerable.  If pen depth is part of this team's strength, what we can trade from, better to use that depth to pump up everybody's stats and make everybody look better.

Last year, even with Dotel being shaky, he allowed the rest of the pen to settle in to better roles and performance.  

Until we are sure that the pen is deep enough without Dotel, we can't risk letting everyone's value diminish through overexposure.

That said:  if we get a legit stud in return, then we do it.

That said, I never thought this team was built for 2005.  I think we need to use some of our chips to keep getting prospects.  Right now, the most valuable chip we have is Dotel.  Closers are going down left and right and Dotel  is worth a ton right now.  Might not be that way in July when Urbina and Percival are available.

So, do you trade Dotel for a ML veteran to help stabilize this club or do you trade him for a prospect with huge upside?  I would vote for the latter.  I'd like to see us trade Dotel for Jeremy Hermida.  He's doing well in AA and could use another year in the minors, but will be ready next year.  Can you say LF?  Trade Byrnes and/or Thomas for anything and put Watson in RF until Swisher heals.  I'm not saying sell off the whole team, but use some of chips to get better for 2006 and beyond.  This team cannot win and I'm sure Billy is realizing it.  

The 2005 A's are going to battle this year, but this is not the year for a rental player (Sanders).  This is a year to load up for 2006 - 2010.  It will take a miracle to win the West this year.

Dotel & Zito (and throw-ins like E. Byrnes, Durazo, Hatteberg, etc...) will be shipped off before the deadline for some future talent - primarily young power.  

Plus, it's just a matter of time before Beane & Company determine the formula for clutch hitting:  BA + Hits + 2 Outs + RISP - SSS = Clutch Hitting (or something like that)

1. as jubjub and now colorado fan remind us, this team probably won't win a playoff series and almost certainly won't win a world series.  that's with or without sanders.
   
2. sanders helps the team only this year.  given #1: who cares.  it's a rebuilding year, so let's rebuild.
   
3. he may not even help this year.  he's hitting .228 with a .282 obp and one home run in the last 16 games.  if he was already on this team, he would be considered part of the problem.
   
4. he's in decline: he's 37, devo provides the downward trend in obp numbers above.
   
5. byrnes and kielty, on the other hand, are young. kielty is hitting better already (i won't rub that in too much, kielty bashers) and byrnes is a streaky guy who at the very least is an extremely useful #4 outfielder, pinch hitter/runner, occassional dh.  who's to say sanders would outperform either of them this year?
   
7. if the a's are going to get a non-moneyball player, why not pay more for someone like feliz (if that's a possibility) who is younger and will help beyond this season.
   
8. trading dotel is the best idea.  surely dotel, byrnes, a 2b, and prospects could get us a nice bat (younger and more long term).  if it can't, screw it, there's no need to make a trade.  we all know (well almost all of us know) that closers are overrated.  if calero can't do it, make street the closer.  if he's going to be around long term and this is a rebuilding year, he should be closing by the end of the summer either way.

as nico said above: "do nothing or else really solve the problem."

1. Upside - hitters peak around 27, so if you have a player younger than that who is already producing, you can usually expect him to improve.
   
2. Cost - players are very cheap in their first 3 years, and often still a good value in their 4th-6th years, relative to older players at the same level of production.

He's still seen as a very popular player w/ a big upside and we better get more than Reggie Sanders if we deal him.

kearns:

avg
.315
.264
.230
.208

obp
.407
.364
.321
.303

slg
.500
.455
.419
.364