The Oakland A's 2011-12 Official Offseason Thread

[Green & Gold Heart]

Well, here we go. Five straight non-winning seasons and counting. Stadium decision? Trading Gio and Cahill and Bailey? Billy Beane going to the Cubs? What is going to happen this offseason?

At least we got rid of Bob Geren in 2011. That was easily the high point of the season.

[mirrf]

The question is what to upgrade. The A's have *a lot* of holes and can't afford the price tag to fill them all.

I believe Willingham, McCarthey, Crisp, DeJesus, Harden, & Matsui are free agents. -That's the whole outfield.

I wanna keep Willingham, but we won't be able to afford him. I heard an interview with him 2 days ago, he basically said he'll go for the money and a contending team will break the tie. The A's loose on both counts.

I also would like to keep McCarthey and we probably have a shot at that. The rest of those guys is "meh".

[Green & Gold Heart]

Actually I read that McCarthy is still arb-eligible so he will be back. Yay for that.

I also think Matsui is back because of the whole Japan thing, and the A's make money from Japanese sponsors for having him. It's just too bad he will take at-bats away from a young player.

I look forward to having an outfield full of young players and them actually getting playing time. If Ryan Sweeney gets 400 at-bats next season it will be another long season.

[mirrf]

Originally Posted by Green & Gold Heart

If Ryan Sweeney gets 400 at-bats next season it will be another long season.

Aaaaaaaah! That is a scary, scary thought.

[Faroo6]

Not really happy about Romanick being let go. The other guys I could care less but RR held that staff together and did a great job with our young pitchers.

[Green & Gold Heart]

Yeah, that one surprised me. I'm guessing that Bob Melvin has guys in mind that he wants to bring in and the A's are letting him do that. I bet we'll see Phil Garner as the bench coach.

I am glad that Gags is staying though, even though he's a bit over aggressive sometimes sending runners. I enjoy seeing him in the 3rd base coaching box and being reminded of the glory days.

[Rizon]

The Jokeland Pathetic's front office will continue to make the same blunders they've been making for years, draft busts, and be unable to cover their mistakes by being able to afford high-priced free agents because of a cheap owner, leading to another losing season.

Just a guess.

[Green & Gold Heart]

Bye, Weurtz. Shoula traded him after the first season when he looked like a quality setup man.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/1...r-hunter-.html

Cedric Hunter is funny to me because I'm playing a solo OOTP league as the Padres right now. It always weird to realize that some of these random prospects in a game are actually real guys.

[Faroo6]

This has to be good right?


Rays director of baseball operations Dan Feinstein has joined the Athletics as their director of pro scouting and baseball development, according to the team.

[Green & Gold Heart]

Saw that yesterday and thought it sounded potentially good for the A's. The Rays have scouted well, dontcha think? Maybe we can develop some damn hitters now.

[Qwerty75]

Been brainstorming the A's for 2012, and my conclusion is this: we're going to be really bad. And it will make me sad, because I will have to put up with 10,000,000 Gio/Cahill/Bailey for X (Montero, D. Brown, et. al.) proposals over the next year (or until a deal actually goes down). The only thing that's of any interest at this point is seeing how the kids settle in (Weeks, B. Allen, C. Carter, Sizemore, etc.) and what the resolution of the SJ relocation plans turns out to be.

[Green & Gold Heart]

Gio is the guy I really don't want to see go, but he is the most attractive trade chip. I am preparing for .

[mirrf]

Originally Posted by Green & Gold Heart

Gio is the guy I really don't want to see go, but he is the most attractive trade chip. I am preparing for .

Gio's under contract for a couple more seasons, right? I wouldn't think we would trade him unless we get a Dan Haren like offer.

[mirrf]

Originally Posted by mirrf

Gio's under contract for a couple more seasons, right? I wouldn't think we would trade him unless we get a Dan Haren like offer.

That being said, if the San Jose thing doesn't go through, I can imagine a fire sale.

[Qwerty75]

Originally Posted by mirrf

Gio's under contract for a couple more seasons, right? I wouldn't think we would trade him unless we get a Dan Haren like offer.

Gio has 4 more years of club control, but isn't signed to a long-term contract. He's eligible for arbitration for the first time this year as a Super 2, so it's the perfect time to extend him. We'll know after the decision on SJ is made, I guess.

[mirrf]

I missed this a couple days ago. Granted, I haven't been sniffing around the hot stove since the A's are never doing anything interesting in the offseason.

David DeJesus now a Cub.
DeJesus reportedly will make $4.25 million in each of his first two years, with the Cubs option for 2014 worth $6.5 million with a $1.5 million buyout.

He didn't do anything in Oakland, but I thought the A's office offered him arbitration. He turned that down? Eh, I guess if he could get 10 million elsewhere, why would he stay here?

[Green & Gold Heart]

Yeah, I was glad to see they offered him arbitration and he declined it. That = draft pick, who has a good chance of being better than Vin Mazzarro.

[Green & Gold Heart]

Cahill and Breslow to the D-Backs? MLBTR says a deal is close.

[Green & Gold Heart]

Originally Posted by Green & Gold Heart

Cahill and Breslow to the D-Backs? MLBTR says a deal is close.

It's done. Gio's gonna be next. It like the Hudson and Mulder exit of '04/'05 offseason.

Should I spend $129.99 for MLB.tv next year to watch the Triple A's?

[Goody]

Originally Posted by Green & Gold Heart

It's done. Gio's gonna be next. It like the Hudson and Mulder exit of '04/'05 offseason.

Should I spend $129.99 for MLB.tv next year to watch the Triple A's?

Only if you're playing fantasy baseball I guess. That might keep your interest in watching games if you can't bear to watch your team.