5
2011
Fire Sale In Oakland? A’s Ready To Move Anyone Including Starters Cahill and Gonzalez
An article by Hojo's Mojo
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Oakland Athletics are in a holding pattern as they await word on whether they can relocate to San Jose. They are also considering a total makeover of their roster.
The team is considering going totally young again and restocking the minors, accumulating draft picks and trading established players for prospects.
They are already parting ways with their entire outfield of Coco Crisp, Josh Willingham and David DeJesus who are all free agents and will not be re-signed.
Rosenthal says “they are open to trade offers for anyone on the roster with the exception of second baseman Jemile Weeks”, according to major-league sources.
The A’s aren’t shopping any of their players, sources say. But they will listen on pitchers such as left-hander Gio Gonzalez and righty Trevor Cahill, both of whom could be in demand in a thin market for starters. Catcher Kurt Suzuki also could be in play.
I’m not sure how much truth there is to this, but I’m thinking Sandy Alderson should give his old protege Billy Beane a call, and as they say in marine-speak, on the double!
Gonzalez, 26, is 31-21 with a 3.17 ERA, 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings and 4.1 walks per nine over the last two years; he has pitched over 200 innings in both of the last two years, and made the All-Star team in 2011. He is arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason, and won’t be eligible for free agency until after the 2014 season.
Cahill will begin a four-year, $30 million deal in 2012 that includes team options for both the 2016 and 2017 seasons. Cahill is 40-35 with a 3.91 ERA in three seasons, but after going 18-8 with a 2.97 ERA in 2010, he slipped to marks of 12-14 with a 4.16 ERA in 2011, a year in which his walk rate went up to 3.6 per nine innings.
Getting either of these pitchers would be a huge upgrade for the Mets rotation. It might take some of our good prospects, but good pitching doesn’t come cheap.
About the Author: Rob Johnson
24 Comments + Add Comment
NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 23 | 18 | .561 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 19 | .548 | 0.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 22 | .476 | 3.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 6.5 |
| Marlins | 11 | 31 | .262 | 12.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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Murphy, Fmart and another 2 for Gio!
I would keep Murphy. I mean, he might’ve won the batting title last year if he hadn’t gotten hurt. He has potential. How about Cory Vaughn, FMart, Bobby Parnell?
I’d do that as well. I like C. Vaughn, but to get Gio or one of the other SPs, I’d be up for that.
Trade for Oakland SP and then you have the option to non-tender or trade pelf.
And I said Murph as he’s a hitter with no position. Sounds like a solid DH option there.
If the Mets are going to trade Murphy, they should wait and see. His value may increase.
Fair point. I am a huge ‘Go Big Murph’ guy, but I really see his best value to the Mets as a trade chip. A solid hitter with no place to play. I am not sure how his injury will play to his trade-ability, but Fmart + Parnell + another 1 or 2 I can see as being part of something to get Gio. I’m thinking one of the “1 or 2″ is going to have to be something decent. Could be Havens… Would you do that?
I would trade Havens. I don’t think he’s a right fit for the Mets. It would be a steal to get Gio for Fmart, Parnell, and Havens.
So much potential… But yeah, I’d do that too.
I think you have to offer a lot more than that for a pitcher of gonzalez’ abilities.
such as?
I would trade Familia, Gee and Nimmo.
Good thing your last name isn’t Alderson.
Why a future reliever, an 18 year old outfielder who weighs 130 lbs soak and wet, and number 5 starter on a 77 win team.
What site I know you from??
The mystery is on…
can’t trade recent draft picks for a year. But, you just want to be rid of Nimmo.
Stupid stupid stupid stupid.
Moneyball the Sequel!
I wonder if Brad Pitt is signed up for the remake?
“Getting either of these pitchers would be a huge upgrade for the Mets rotation”
Why not get both? I smell a potential steal. Isn’t this is the same team that traded Matt Holliday for practically nothing but scraps? A lot of good pitching possibilities from that team…Cahill, Gonzalez, Bailey, Balfour, Breslow, Fuentes, Devine, Braden, etc. As much as I like Gio Gonzalez, I’d like to bring up another left hander I really like, although he’s had 32 starts the last 2 seasons: Brett Anderson. The kid has awesome stuff and I for one would try to pry him to New York if I were Sandy Alderson.
Cahill, Anderson, Bailey, Devine (or Balfour), and Breslow= Guys the Mets should have on their radar if this fire sale happens.
I would package Niese Mejia and Evans and maybe another A or AA player or Flores if Both could be had.
I’d keep Niese and offer up Gee, despite his shortcomings in the 2nd half.
While it’s more attractive from our standpoint to give them Gee instead I don’t think he would be enough from their standpoint.
Niese gives them something good NOW (Niese to replace the Pitcher plus a decent 1B/OF in Evans who remains cheap) Something Later in Mejia who could be a starter or a closer with the right coaching and one kid considered a PROSPECT from us to justify it to the fanbase.
It might even be required to include BOTH Niese and Gee in that package to get it done though.
They want to sell off but they also are going to want to get back a lot to justify it!
What is more likely is a three team deal where players go flying accross the board to multiple trade partners.
I am so glad Alderson isn’t a moron like some of the posts on here. The Mets need to build their minor league system not gut it again. Continually gutting multiple top prospects in the organization is a big part of what got the team into the situation they are in. Trading away what few guys they have that are ready for the majors is a dumb move. The Mets can’t trade Niese, Gee, and other pitching prospects when their major problem is a total lack of pitching. I could see trading Murphy if you could get someone good for him. Murphy is a player without a position and could be seen as a good trade because he can hit. He could be good in the AL where he could end up a DH somewhere. Trading the few pitchers the Mets have would be suicide.
Since your so smart maybe you can tell us how letting Reyes go will rebuild our Minor Leagues?
Tell me how that works if the Marlins sign him as well!
What we getting FOR letting Reyes go pray tell?
Since your of such superior intelligence than the rest of us fans it shouldn’t be too difficult a question to answer.
lol nice post… well played!