Oakland A's moves

[A's in Glasgow]

Re-signed Mark Ellis.

Seems to be a bit of disagreement in A's forums regarding this but I'm an Ellis fan. He got hurt last year but he's usually dependable and had started hitting with more power over the last couple of seasons.

Very good defensively at his position and we don't really have anyone in the minors ready to step up so it makes sense all round.

And we've got more pressing needs to attend to this off season than chasing after a new second baseman.

[rmonsta]

I still think Giambi will end up back in Oakland

[A's in Glasgow]

I still think Giambi will end up back in Oakland

The acrimonious way in which he departed us could be a stumbling block. But hey, we could certainly be doing with his pop in our line-up. No arguing that. :thumbup:

[A's in Glasgow]

Emil Brown has filed for free agency. No surprise there and he'll be off for sure. He did well at the start of last season for us but we've got Ryan Sweeney, Carlos Gonzalez and Travis Buck all looking for time in the outfield and Jack Cust's bat was the only consistent power we had in our line up. Lets not get into his 'fielding skills'. So it was fairly certain Brown wouldn't be back for next season.


Alan Embree, Keith Foulke and The Big Hurt won't be returning either. Too old now and too often injured.


Suzuki, Barton, Buck, Gonzalez, Sweeney. These guys are the future for us now.

[rmonsta]

Bob Alejo back at Oakland looks pretty sure thats where JAson will end up now!!

[mic99]

wow

did not see this one coming

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3694100

[A's in Glasgow]

Bob Alejo back at Oakland looks pretty sure thats where JAson will end up now!!

I'll still be majorly surprised if this happens. :p

[A's in Glasgow]

wow

did not see this one coming

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3694100

Our payroll is going up by quite a bit and I don't believe this is a buy and sell move by Beane for better prospects. And I can't see him renting him for a season either. Hoping Billy has something up his sleeve long term deal wise. He's the power we need in the middle of the line up. A bit gutted about giving up Gonzalez as I thought he looked like he could be the real deal last season but other than that, I'm over the moon. :)

[A's in Glasgow]

Sounds like we won't finish at Holliday. We're still being rumoured to be potential suitors for Furcal but I'd imagine once the bidding starts it'll get too rich for us. Renteria seems like a more viable option. Of course, all this doesn't make for good reading for Bobby Crosby so there's every chance Billy will have him traded away before the season starts.

Wow. Not used to so much free agent activity being an A's fan. :o

[A's in Glasgow]

It seems we are still very much in the hunt for Furcal. We've looked at his medical reports. Unsurprising considering our treatment room for the past couple of seasons looks like an episode of ER.

Crosby must be close to packing his bags by now. He's a player I like but it just isn't happening for him with the A's. Maybe it would be better for all parties for him to start anew somewhere else.

[A's in Glasgow]

Furcal could be signed up by Monday or Tuesday and it would seem we still have a very good shot at grabbing him. If we do get him then the infield will look quite a bit different from last season if Giambi returns as he would go to first base with Furcal at SS. Cust is going to be DH'ing next year but it would mean that Barton's position is up in the air.

[rmonsta]

Furcal could be signed up by Monday or Tuesday and it would seem we still have a very good shot at grabbing him. If we do get him then the infield will look quite a bit different from last season if Giambi returns as he would go to first base with Furcal at SS. Cust is going to be DH'ing next year but it would mean that Barton's position is up in the air.

Building quite a team there:thumbup:

[A's in Glasgow]

Building quite a team there:thumbup:

It's looking good at the minute and in recent off seasons Beane has managed to grab the odd veteran that can still contribute so we'll see what happens.

Our rotation is needing strengthening so a veteran starting pitcher may be on the agenda as well.

[A's in Glasgow]

The latest off season rumour surronding the A's?

Only the big unit.

I'm having trouble getting my head round this off season so far, but I'm kind of enjoying it... kind of.

[A's in Glasgow]

We've re-signed Rob Bowen on a 1yr deal. Expected move.

What I want to know is what the hell is keeping Furcal from making a decision?!

And the more I think about it the more I'd like to see R.Johnson with us for one season next year. His veteran presence could be just what our young rotation needs.

[A's in Glasgow]

Didn't want Furcal anyway... :rolleyes:

[rmonsta]

Didn't want Furcal anyway... :rolleyes:

Agent made an arse of that! I hear u are already in talks with Giambi:thumbup:

[A's in Glasgow]

Agent made an arse of that! I hear u are already in talks with Giambi:thumbup:

It's quite possible his agent was playing us just to drum up some more interest.

I think you were right all along. It looks almost certain Giambi will be back with us unless someone comes in and offers him good money with three years tacked onto it.

[rmonsta]

It's quite possible his agent was playing us just to drum up some more interest.

I think you were right all along. It looks almost certain Giambi will be back with us unless someone comes in and offers him good money with three years tacked onto it.

The only other possible chance of him not going to Oakland would be Yankees trading Matsui and resigning him as DH. I seriously doubt that tho there would be more sense in resigning Abreu to play RF!

[A's in Glasgow]

Agent made an arse of that! I hear u are already in talks with Giambi:thumbup:

Well it's all settled now.

Giambi has signed a 1yr deal with a club option for 2010.

With Oakland, Giambi gets a $4 million salary this season and the A's hold a $6.5 million option for 2010 with a $1.25 million buyout, according to the Associated Press. He can earn an additional $500,000 each year in performance bonuses: $250,000 each for 525 and 550 plate appearances.


We've made great strides so far in improving our offensive output with both Giambi and Holliday installed in the line up. It should also help the pitching staff by knowing they'll surely get superior run support to what they had for most of last season.

The only question is, who makes way for the return of Giambi?

Jack Cust was slated to start as DH this season with Daric Barton at 1st base. I still think we'll see Giambi start at first base initially with Cust as DH. With him, Giambi, Holliday and hopefully a fit again Chavez then we should be a more fearsome proposition for opponents pitchers.

[rmonsta]

Well it's all settled now.

Giambi has signed a 1yr deal with a club option for 2010.

With Oakland, Giambi gets a $4 million salary this season and the A's hold a $6.5 million option for 2010 with a $1.25 million buyout, according to the Associated Press. He can earn an additional $500,000 each year in performance bonuses: $250,000 each for 525 and 550 plate appearances.


We've made great strides so far in improving our offensive output with both Giambi and Holliday installed in the line up. It should also help the pitching staff by knowing they'll surely get superior run support to what they had for most of last season.

The only question is, who makes way for the return of Giambi?

Jack Cust was slated to start as DH this season with Daric Barton at 1st base. I still think we'll see Giambi start at first base initially with Cust as DH. With him, Giambi, Holliday and hopefully a fit again Chavez then we should be a more fearsome proposition for opponents pitchers.

I think Giambi will do great in that team. He is still one of my fave players in baseball and should be good for 30 homers and around 100 RBI:thumbup:

[A's in Glasgow]

Jack Cust has secured a new 1yr deal with the A's. His power and his patience are a perfect fit for us as he's proved over the last two seasons. Now if he could only improve his reads and positioning in the outfield... :lol:

He'll spell time with Giambi at DH and play outfield a bit as well I imagine for next season.

Not so good news is that the Duke (Justin Duchscherer) and the A's are having trouble agreeing a new contract. Justin made the All Star team in 2008 but his season was hampered by injury. It seems Beane only wants to offer him another season whereas JD would prefer a multi year deal. He's our no.1 at this minute in time so hopefully we can get something worked out rather than having to go to a contract hearing.

[A's in Glasgow]

Not so good news is that the Duke (Justin Duchscherer) and the A's are having trouble agreeing a new contract. Justin made the All Star team in 2008 but his season was hampered by injury. It seems Beane only wants to offer him another season whereas JD would prefer a multi year deal. He's our no.1 at this minute in time so hopefully we can get something worked out rather than having to go to a contract hearing.


Delighted to see that we have agreed a deal with Justin and it's all settled now and he and the A's can concentrate on other matters and getting ready to contend once again for the AL West this coming season.

All-Star righty Justin Duchscherer told MLB.com on Saturday that he's reached an agreement on a one-year contract with the A's, avoiding a potentially nasty arbitration hearing next month.

Duchscherer, the last of Oakland's arbitration-eligible players to sign, said his new deal features a guaranteed salary of $3.9 million and could bring him up to $4.05 million.


http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090124&content_id=3769754&vkey=news_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak