FanPost

Kyrbyr's Second, Funky Offseason Proposal

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Watching this World Series has been a great way to revitalize just how fun baseball should be, after a second miserable, Butlerful season in Oakland. Game 7 is the cap to a wonderful postseason, and my gears are a'juiced up.


I already wrote a normal offseason proposal. But we still have a hell of a long time before Spring Training.

Let's get funky with it.

Trade 1:

TO PIT

Sonny Gray, John Axford, and Danny Valencia

TO OAK

Andrew McCutchen and Alan Hanson

This is an extension of a Gray/McCutchen deal that's been kicked around on AN for a while, and it does make sense for both sides. McCutchen gets a change of scenery while still being an overall excellent CF. Alan Hanson wins a spot on a MLB roster as a utility man. Axford goes back to the Pirates, where he previously thrived (in the wake of a Melancon departure) and Danny Valencia replaces free-agent John Jaso as incumbent "ex-Athletics first baseman." Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole/Sonny Gray becomes a very powerful and cheap 1-2 punch to help PIT compete in the NL Central and the New Cubs Overlords.

McCutchen immediately locks down CF for 2017 and 2018, and would be a strong candidate for extension in this scenario as well.


Trade 2:

TO WAS:

Stephen Vogt, Franklin Baretto, AJ Puk, Grant Holmes, Matt Olson, Renato Nunez, Rangel Ravelo and Jed! Lowrie

TO OAK:

Bryce Harper, Ben Revere, Gio Gonzalez, AJ Cole, and cash

YOU THOUGHT THE GRAY TRADE WAS BIG?

F*** IT LET'S MAKE A BLOCKBUSTER.

Before you say anything, Washington has just blown it in the first round of the playoffs - AGAIN - and their front office has to be shredding their own hair trying to figure out what is going wrong. Now imagine Billy Beane getting in there with his good trading buddy Mike Rizzo during this period of uncertainty, and blowing some s**t up. I envision Washington pulling a Yankees-like rebuild, selling a few top players in order to immediately re-supplement the farm and potentially compete the same season. Let's get involved, now that we've got a stash of prospects (who keep getting jumped over by "non-prospects" in our system). Only Matt Chapman is untouchable to me at this point.

Washington needs: a catcher (ding!) a second baseman (ding!) an OF replacement (ding!) and top 100 prospects (ding!). They can, should, would, and will dump Lowrie immediately.

The A's need: a lefty-swinging high-caliber RF (ding!) a speedy LH platoon OF (ding!) a veteran pitcher (ding!) to dump Lowrie on some team who can afford to cut him (ding!) and an AJ Cole trade between the A's and Nationals (ding!)

While this is clearly a trade that would never happen in real life, just play along ya f**ks. This is as close as I can come to balancing a Harper trade, and yes it would be costly for the A's. But we'd have Bryce F***ing Harper on our team, at an age where he could be extended the same day as a new stadium announcement, if the money spigots opened.

Revere is very similar to Billy Burns, but I'm still pissed we traded Burns to begin with. I'd be fine with that player on our team again, and Revere is very expendable for the Nats. He would be a 4th outfielder with tremendous speed off the bench, and is known to have a very affable personality that would fit well in the new clubhouse.

Gio is on the last year of his contract, and would love a chance to play for a new one in the spacious O.Co . Bring him back, let him be our #2 and teach Manaea and the boys a few tricks, and I think is a wise addition in the vein of a Bartolo Colon setting to help mentor our young and very talented upcoming starting rotation.

AJ Cole needs to make the trip between Oakland and Washington again, for old time's sake. He's done *okay* at AAA, and is going to remain as AAA pitching depth.

Trade #3:

TO SD:

Jesse Hahn + Brett Eibner

TO OAK:

Travis Jankowski

Two things. Hahn was already good for San Diego, and San Diego is especially good at fixing Oakland pitchers.

Combine those two factors, and Jesse Hahn (and his new +3MPH 4SFB courtesy of Oakland) will probably win the 2017 Cy Young for the Padres. Eibner replaces the roster spot.

Meanwhile, the A's get a young cornerstone LF in Jankowsi, a cheap player to supplement some of the more expensive proposals. Jankowski did not blow anyone out of the water in his MLB debut, but still shows promise.

Sign: Brandon Moss 2/16

With Olson traded to Washington, first base is suddenly available for a return of the wonderful chatterbox, Brandon Moss. Moss is an adequate 1B who can move to LF or RF longer term, in case of injury. He is who eventually loses his spot to Matt Chapman, pushing Ryon Healy over to 1B.

Lineup vs RHP:

R - Andrew McCutchen, CF

R - Marcus Semien SS

L - Bryce Harper, RF

R - Khris Davis, DH

L - Brandon Moss, 1B

R - Ryon Healy, 3B

L - Travis Jankowski, LF

L - Bruce Maxwell, C

L - Joey Wendle, 2B


Bench: Phegley, Revere, Canha, Hanson

Lineup vs LHP:

R - Andrew McCutchen, CF

R - Marcus Semien, SS

L - Bryce Harper, RF

R - Khris Davis, DH

R - Ryon Healy, 3B

R - Mark Canha, 1B

R - Josh Phegley C

S - Alan Hanson, LF

L - Joey Wendle, 2B

Bench: Maxwell, Jankowski, Moss, Revere

Rotation

Manaea

Gonzalez

Graveman

Cotton

Bassitt (?)

Triggs (?)

Montas

Mengden

Cole

R. Alcantara

(Covey, Overton, T. Healy, etc)

Bullpen:

CL - Madson - R

SU - Doolittle - L

SU - Dull - R

MR - Hendriks - R

MR - Coloumbe - L

MR - Wahl - R

LR - Triggs - R

This is a team that competes immediately in 2017, and if contracts are properly managed, a team that can compete for some time.

Our front office said they want to add two outfielders.

I went with the best fitting CF rumored to be available, and the best fitting RF not rumored at all.

Let's have fun.