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Tuesday was a big day for the A's organization as a whole, mainly thanks to the signing of form Royals slugger Billy Butler to a three-year, $30 million contract.
But for the rest of the Athletics, Tuesday was just another day in the still-young offseason, and Josh Donaldson spent it sharing some thoughts on Twitter, at least one of which was too interesting to ignore.
But first, the fact that Donaldson is just as eager as the rest of us to see how the offseason plays out:
@Fedge39 I honestly do not know I'm just as interested as you are.
— Josh Donaldson (@BringerOfRain20) November 19, 2014
And, of course, Oakland's All-Star third baseman taking an opportunity to let a fan know that he and Sonny Gray don't look particularly old:
@rfwes you look 12 but so does Sonny just wondering is all.
— Josh Donaldson (@BringerOfRain20) November 19, 2014
But here's the real show:
@markslifer09 they have plenty of money my friend. They just tell everyone they don't.
— Josh Donaldson (@BringerOfRain20) November 18, 2014
Donaldson essentially told the entire Internet that Oakland's ownership dupes the fanbase into believing it's poor, refusing to shell out for a big market-style payroll and roster while they reap massive profits, which they in turn pocket. Donaldson may well have hit the nail on the head about Lew Wolff and John Fisher, but it's interesting and even a tad concerning that players are a) not content with the way the ball club is run and b) willing to share those opinions with whomever might be interested in reading them.
In Donaldson's view (again, he may well be spot-on), the Oakland Coliseum's decrepit conditions and infrastructure are no indicator of the ownership's ability to shell out when the need is there:
@angelakalalo do you think when it floods they don't have money? Your crazy ease up bc you lack the credibility right now.
— Josh Donaldson (@BringerOfRain20) November 19, 2014
Donaldson went on to indirectly address the prospect of him leaving for greener pastures and greener paychecks the moment his contract affords him the opportunity, in the context of the blockbuster deal Giancarlo Stanton just signed with the Miami Marlins, first saying "Trust me, I know," and following it up with this:
@JustBTFDBaby @DouchyLewWolff just remember this no matter what I'll always have love for Oakland through the good and bad. — Josh Donaldson (@BringerOfRain20) November 17, 2014
Donaldson isn't getting in trouble for this, and he didn't say anything remotely off-base or unwarranted. But it's an interesting topic to keep an eye on. This is 2014, and players don't even have to leave their living rooms to express opinions about anything they like, including their own club's primary financial stakeholders.
In a well run organization, players wouldn't have major issues with the ownership. That's not to say that the A's aren't well run; there are many deep-seated issues that the ownership and front office simply have no control over. But the fact remains that Donaldson is (at the very least) skeptical of the team's financial model, and his willingness to broadcast his thoughts is another interesting read into the psyche of athletes who, like it or not, play for the Oakland Athletics.