This
year’s Oakland Athletics team came into this season with a very strong lineup
and pitching staff. The pitching staff was so good that they lost two of their
best (Griffin and Parker) and still were able to be one of the best starting
five in baseball. But that wasn’t enough for A’s GM Billy Beane he wanted a
team that could stand with the best of them and to me it looks like he has put
together that team. Some would say that Beane is going “all in” for this
season. I think that he is too but I think that he has also set them up for
success in coming years. As for 2014 let’s take a look at the key pieces that I
think the A’s got themselves in this very active trade deadline and what they
lost…
#1 SP Jon Lester (10-7,
2.52 ERA, 149 SO) from the Boston Red Sox: This was a huge pickup with the
postseason in mind. Lester not only is an ace on any staff that he is on but he
is one of the best pitchers in recent memory in October and November. So we
will not know the true value of the trade for him until the postseason gets
here…
#2 SP Jeff Samardja (2-1,
3.19 ERA, 27 SO) from the Chicago Cubs: This was a trade that no one saw
coming kind of like the Lester trade. The only difference is that what the
Athletics gave up to get the Shark is a lot less than what they gave up to get
Lester. But this one was another win now trade that put the A’s in position to
get to the Series in 2014…
#3 OF Sam Fuld (.212
avg., 1 HR, 4 RBI, .297 OBP)(Twins) and OF Jonny Gomes (.234 avg., 6 HR, 32
RBI, .329 OBP)(Red Sox): Now these two guys were both picked up on deadline
day and both will be looked to, to replace the offense lost by the trade of
Cespsdes. Neither guy is a power hitter but both are smart at the plate and understand
what manager Bob Melvin wants being that they both have played for the A’s in
recent years…
Now
remember in order to get something in the MLB you have to give something up. In
order to get the Shark the Athletics had to give up some of their future in top
prospect Addison Russell and in order to get a ace like Jon Lester the A’s had
to give up their 2 time HR Derby champ and All Star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
Was it worth it?, Only time will tell but this is what they gave up to get
these guys…
#1 OF Yoenis Cespedes
(.256 avg, 17HR, 67RBI, .303 OBP) to the Boston Red Sox: Cespedes was one
guy that I have hated to see go. Mainly because I think that this guy is going
to hit a lot of homeruns throughout his career and I wanted that to happen in
the Green and Gold. Instead he will spend at least the next two years in
Boston, but getting back a pitcher that can help us win a title this year makes
it worth it to this A’s fan…
#2 SP Tommy Milone
(6-3, 3.55 ERA, 61 SO) to Minnesota Twins: Milone asked to be traded after
he had a great run of games before being sent down to the minors to make room
for the Shark and Hammel. So at the trade deadline the A’s gave him his wish
and he is now a Twin and hopefully can be successful in his future endeavors….
#3 SP Dan Straily (1-2,
4.93 ERA, 34 SO)(Cubs) and SS Addison Russell (N/A)(Cubs):Now these two
guys were not a big loss for the Athletics only because Straily started the
season In the rotation and struggled before being sent down and traded and Russell
was a non factor in AA with a lot of potential to make it to the majors. So
these two will make a impact down the road but they could help Oakland now so
its not a loss to lose them to the Cubs…
Overall
I think that these moves made the A’s a more dangerous team especially come
October when pitching really matters. So keep an eye on one of the teams that
was busiest during the trade deadline. Can the Athletics win a World Series
this year? I think they can they have all the pieces in place to get it done,
they just have to get to October so they can show the rest of the league…
If you want to listen
to the Double K’s Classrrom show on the 4ACES network…
Friday nights at 8pm
PST/ 11pm EST
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