2005/2006 A's offseason thread

[A'sDiehard]

ADH, Rincon signed with the Cardinals today.

[Providence A's]

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/NAS...=.jsp&c_id=mlb

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers resolved the Milton Bradley situation on Tuesday, trading the outfielder and infielder Antonio Perez to the Oakland A's for top outfield prospect Andre Ethier, according to a Los Angeles source.
Bradley is recovering from knee surgery and he goes to Oakland hoping to turn the page after a turbulent two seasons in Los Angeles. Perez, a utility infielder with a live bat, was recently sidelined in the Dominican Winter League when he was hit in the face with a page and suffered a small fracture of his left cheekbone.

Bradley posted modest numbers in an injury-marred 2005, with a .290 average, a .350 on-base percentage, 13 homers and 38 RBIs. Perez batted a career-high .297 with 11 steals and 13 doubles.

Ethier, the A's top outfield prospect, was named the Texas League Player of the Year last season, and had a strong Arizona Fall League, hitting .366 with 21 RBIs and a .495 on-base percentage over 23 games.

The trade is the first for new Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, who appears intent on reshaping the Los Angeles outfield and the roster as a whole.

So it's Ethier for Bradley and Perez. This must mean we're going to move another OF...Kotsay, Payton, Bradley, and Swisher...unless we're not signing Thomas and using one as a DH...

[A'sDiehard]

I know you're not crazy about it Providence, but I like the move and I like Bradley, I always have. If we get Thomas, picture this lineup:

1. Kotsay
2. Kendall
3. Bradley/chavy
4. Chavy/bradley
5. Thomas
6. Crosby
7. Johnson
8. Swish
9. Ellis

What do you think?

[Providence A's]

We're definitely not done as one OF is going to be moved...especially if we sign Thomas. I think Thomas will be batting 3rd with Chavez 4th.

01. Kendall/Ellis
02. Kotsay
03. Thomas
04. Chavez
05. Bradley
06. Crosby
07. Johnson
08. Swisher
09. Ellis/Kendall

Bench:
01. Payton?
02. Kielty?
03. Perez
04. Scutaro
05. Melhuse

[Providence A's]

Rotation
01. Zito
02. Harden
03. Haren
04. Loaiza
05. Blanton

Long
01. Saarloos?
02. Duke

Garbage
01. Kennedy?
02. Garcia?
03. Cruz?

Setup
01. Witasick
02. Calero
03. Flores?

Closer
01. Street

Too many pitchers obviously...we'll have 11 I bet, so some people have to be moved.

[DirtyKash]

The Athletics acquisition of outfielder Milton Bradley means that right fielder Nick Swisher will move to first base. Bradley joins Mark Kotsay (center) and Jay Payton (left) in the outfield, and first baseman Dan Johnson will spend most of his time at DH, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

[Providence A's]

I don't think so...Payton will be moved or on the bench. Swisher will be in RF. Johnson at 1st. And Frank ****ing Thomas will be the DH.

[Providence A's]

Thomas headed for A's

It looks like White Sox free-agent slugger Frank Thomas is headed to the Oakland Athletics.

Looks like I'm right again...Thomas DH, Bradley LF, Kotsay CF, Swisher RF, and Johnson 1B. And Payton on the bench unless another move is made.

[Providence A's]

still no official word on Thomas yet and the A's don't make announcements on the weekend from what I've read, so it looks like Thomas will have to wait until next week.

[Providence A's]

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/...s/13430138.htm

Wolff did not discount the A's acquiring Thomas but preferred to defer to general manager Billy Beane.

"Frank is an icon," Wolff said. "Bradley is somebody we've wanted. I think we have a top-notch lineup now. I thought we had a great year last year. We would have won the division if we were healthy. As long as we don't have to use the MRI machine next year, we're going to be all right."

[Providence A's]

I don't know how true this is since it's from a MN paper and doesn't quote any A's sources, but here it is anyway:

http://www.startribune.com/stories/507/5788742-2.html

Now that the Oakland A's have acquired Milton Bradley from the Dodgers, they are less interested in Frank Thomas. Thus the Twins have a better chance with Thomas, and if he is healthy it would be one great move. He would hit a ton of home runs in the Metrodome. The Twins are awaiting a doctor's report on Thomas' ankle before making an offer.

[Providence A's]

Kennedy signed a 1 year deal:

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/NAS...=.jsp&c_id=oak

OAKLAND -- The Oakland A's today announced that they have agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Joe Kennedy on a one-year contract for the 2006 season. The A's also announced that catcher John Baker was claimed on waivers by the Florida Marlins.
Kennedy was acquired by the A's from Colorado at the All-Star Break last year and was 4-5 with a 4.45 ERA in 19 games, eight starts, with Oakland. He also went 4-8 with a 7.04 ERA in 16 starts with the Rockies. The 26-year old Kennedy posted a 3.00 ERA in 11 relief appearances with the A's before replacing the injured Rich Harden in the starting rotation. He was 2-5 with a 5.06 ERA in his eight starting assignments with Oakland.

Baker hit .234 with five home runs and 41 RBI in 103 games at Triple-A Sacramento last year. He was designated for assignment on December 5 when the A's acquired Chad Gaudin from Toronto.

Kennedy was the first of eight arbitration eligible players on the A's roster to agree to terms on a contract for the 2006 season. The remaining seven players are right-handed pitchers Kiko Calero and Juan Cruz, catcher Adam Melhuse, infielder Mark Ellis and outfielders Hiram Bocachica, Milton Bradley and Bobby Kielty.

[Providence A's]

woo hoo!

-A's signed Frank Thomas
-A's signed Ellis to a 2 year deal with an option for a 3rd year

[Providence A's]

Here is an article that appeared on ESPN.com today that is written by SF Chronicle writer John Shea.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/column...t&lid=tab3pos2

It pretty much summarizes the off-season with the main focus being the addition of Loaiza, the non-move of Zito, and the strength of the rotation in general.

[DirtyKash]

Even though his contract with the Red Sox was reported final, Juan Gonzalez is reportedly set to sign a minor league deal with the Athletics.

Mar. 21 - 11:40 pm et

http://www.endi.com/2006/03/21/depor...ate=2006/03/21