Athletics rumors: Billy Beane "working on multiple trades", talking with Braves and White Sox

Friday night, the hot stove got crackling when Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle tweeted that she was "hearing rumblings that the Athletics are close to a fairly significant deal that involves Jeff Samardzija."

#Athletics would be getting back several pieces, and they're targeting hitters, an ML source tells me.

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) November 29, 2014

AL source says A's are involved in multi-player deal. On verge of trading big piece for three or four players.

— Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) November 29, 2014

No indications from the #Athletics side that Samardjzija is involved in deal but sounds like something is certainly brewing.

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) November 29, 2014

After that point, things became simultaneously hazy and exciting, as it appeared Jeff Samardzija might not be traded tonight, but trade discussions were ongoing. However, a new trade was afoot:

There is speculation that Samardzija is on the move, which would make sense, but it's simply that - speculation. At least for now.

— Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) November 29, 2014

Sources: Trade #Athletics are discussing does NOT involve Samardzija.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 29, 2014

Executive also tells me trade doesn't involve Moss. RT @Ken_Rosenthal Sources: Trade #Athletics are discussing does NOT involve Samardzija.

— Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) November 29, 2014

As I said earlier, no one from #Athletics side ever had confirmed Samardzija; my first ML source had said big trade and Samardzija. Not A's.

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) November 29, 2014

I'm told 10 teams have expressed interest in Samardzija; #RedSox and #WhiteSox among them. But he is not in deal as @Ken_Rosenthal says.

— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) November 29, 2014

One source says #Athletics working on multiple trades. All teams are for most part, but source says, "This is Billy re-working the club."

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 29, 2014

What we know for sure is, well, nothing really. This could be an extraordinary night for the Oakland Athletics.

Update (9:45 PM):

Josh Donaldson is off to the Blue Jays with Brett Lawrie and three others in return, but we might not be done this weekend. John Hickey of the Oakland Tribune is saying the A's are talking to the Braves, and Jim Benson of the Pantagraph in Bloomington, IL that the A's and White Sox are talking too:

Hearing from reliable source #WhiteSox will acquire RHP Jeff Samardzija this weekend from #Athletics.

— Jim Benson (@Pg_Benson) November 29, 2014

#Athletics talking with #Braves about Justin Upton, Evan Gattis sources say. Jeff Samardzija may be the bait.

— John Hickey (@JHickey3) November 29, 2014