http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7...

The Dodgers have added another starting pitcher to their rotation, claiming right-hander Esteban Loaiza on waivers from the A's.

The teams did not complete a trade for Loaiza; the A's simply allowed the Dodgers to assume the rest of Loaiza's contract — less than $1 million this season, plus Loaiza's entire $7 million salary for 2008.

I'm completely baffled.  Why not hold on to Loaiza and deal him this offseason?  Another terrible move by Beane.  Buy High, Sell Low.

It almost feels like Beane & Company have become a "Born Again" Organization.... choosing to keep "Good Guys" who suck (Chavez, Crosby, Kotsay) over "Bad Guys" who don't.

Baffling.

Come on!

We need to figure out a way to get Crosby, Chavez, and Kotsay to start bitching publicly and by name to the press about Beane.

Then, Beane will simply DFA them.

if he had given up 10 runs over his last two starts?  I think people are overvaluing him based on his stats in the last week.

That said, he'll go to the NL and probably pitch very well and everyone will think it was another terrible Beane move.  I guess this means we won't be trading Blanton in the offseason.

Good riddance to the guy and the money he was owed next year.  Bye bye ELo

Yes Loaiza has $8 mil on his contract, but thats actually pretty cheap considering the money that teams are throwing at decent, mid-rotation starting pitchers these days.

Can it be that they just claimed him and agree to work outcompensation later?

BUT...they should have gotten something for him!  He's a starting pitcher who will give you a decent outing most times out and is coming on the cheap for today's market.  And you're telling me you couldn't swing even one prospect from the Dodgers for him?

I wonder where all this "money" we're "saving" is going to go.  Do the new San Jose Earthquakes plan to make a run at Beckham or something?

... and I'm a a free-agent-aholic.

Hi, Billy.

Last night, I hit bottom.

Congratulations, Billy.

My team lost its fifth game in a row, I realized we might finish under .500, and ... < sob > I broke the last chair in the Coliseum.

So, this morning, I woke up, and I went through the roster, and started pouring every bad, expensive free-agent signing and extension down the drain.

the A's are getting NOTHING in return?????

i don't understand!!!

Add me to the list of those who find this move ... puzzling.

Many didn't like this signing in the first place: the A's paid close to market value for an inconsistent averagish pitcher. And in a sense the critics have been right, as the A's have so far gotten only a month or two of effective pitching for their expensive investment.

But since then the price for averagish pitchers has only gone up farther:  Adam frickin' Eaton got more than Loaiza, coming off a year in which he was injured and had an ERA of more than 5. Meche and Lilly got deals for 40% more than Loaiza (and with very risky 5-year commitments). And the Pirates were willing to give up two players for the last year of Matt Morris' contract (more expensive than Loaiza's, and Morris, though healthier, has not been as good as Loaiza since they both signed two years ago).

In these circumstances, one year of Loaiza at $7 Million - even given his injuries and inconsistency - is a low-risk bargain that many GMs should be willing to assume. Giving that away for nothing, especially at a time when Loaiza was finally pitching well, just makes no sense.

We just let him go? Come on, Billy, you're better than this.

Billy had to save money because his subprime adjustable rate mortgage just reset and his payments doubled.  

Assuming a modest increase in payroll ... the team is currently a bit more than $20m under payroll for 2008 with all of the starting positions covered (though a couple of them may not really be covered adequately ...)

With Kotsay coming off the books, we can afford that sum for at least 2-3 years ... which will bring us to the presumed doorstep of the new stadium.

Why not A-Rod?