http://www.rivercats.com/team/transactions/

Fiorentino is off the DL, and the Rivercats needed a spot.  Buck, CarGon, and Fiorentino are the outfield in Sacto, Gaetti punished the ball in his shot, Cunningham is right behind these guys, Putnam is hitting well, and Denorfia is going to need a place to play too.  Linden go bye-bye.  He had an out clause so he was probably on his way out anyway, but with the outfield talent the A's have, no real reason to carry a malcontent journeyman.

...without significantly altering our current roster.  We need a quality replacement for Payton.  Kotsay and Bradley are both likely to spend some time on the DL, and Johnson may not hit (forcing Swisher back to first.)  Kielty is so useless vs righties that he's not suitable to move up to Payton's role.  Goleski can't be counted on.  So, Beane needs one more quality player.  Here are some decent choices.

1 Geoff Jenkins: If you've read a diary from me, you've seen this before.  He still batters righties and plays great defense.  Milwaukee wants to move hiim.  Would make a great platoon partner with Kielty.  I view this as the ideal.  Could probably be had in exchange for Kurt Suzuki, or possibly Saarloos or Halsey.

2 Kenny Lofton: Lofton has been replaced in LA by Juan Pierre, but he's still a solid player (probably better than $9m/yr Pierre.)  He put up a .763 ops in Dodger Stadium and plays at least average defense.  He would obviously be especially useful for us since he plays centerfield.  IIRC, he's a free agent.  Would likely command a $4 million or so salary, and may not be willing to sign on without a sure starting gig.

3 Emil Brown: Very underrated player who doesn't seemed to be valued by his own team.  Put up consecutive .800 ops seasons, and plays excellent defense per the metrics.  A bit stretched as a starter, but would make a very fine 400 AB fill-in.  Not sure who we'd have to trade, somebody toolsy like Santiago Casilla (plus).  Dayton Moore is a scout first.

Those are three good ones.  Beyond them, it's going to be hard without giving up a significant piece in return.  Any ideas?

Here's mine.  Post yours.

I'm going under the assumption that there isn't actually much money coming free.  Lots of guys are due raises, already contracted or not.

1. Pencil in Jason Windsor as the 5th starter.  It's a hell of a lot cheaper than singing a replacement 5th starter and we can't get a premium talent for the price we're willing to pay anyway.  Windsor is likely to be as good as any reclamation project, and he may well be better.  Saarloos is insurance if necessary (or Halsey if we let Los Kirk go.)
2. Immediately record Dan Johnson's bench press, deadlift, and squat pundages, and tell him to increase those numbers by 40, 60, and 80 lbs respectively, by spring training.  It's for his own good.  DJ needs an edge.  The roid heads didn't increase their games for no reason.  I'm not at all advocating steroid use by DJ, but he can definitely make improvements.  He needs to do something if he wants to have a major league career.  
3. Trade for Geoff Jenkins.  I'm sure many of you will hate this idea, but Jenkins is the best defensive leftfielder in baseball, and he still hits righties very well (.871 OPS against, .877 over the past three years).  The Brewers are desperate to trade him, and will almost surely eat at least $2 million off his $7 million contract, and will likely only require a Kurt Suzuki or Brad Halsey type in return.  A platoon with Kielty would be adding an All-Star level player to the lineup for far less than an All-Star would cost.
4. Sign Kennedy to a two year deal for $4-5 million.  He was balls when healthy.
5. Trade Duke for Kevin Kouzmanoff plus an A baller.  Another unpopular notion, but Duke is about to get expensive, has tremendous trade value, and is mostly replaceable.  Kennedy is nearly as reliable.  Gaudin and Calero can take Kennedy's spot. The bullpen will remain stacked. You have to give to get.  The A's need another big bat.  We all know this.  Duke can fetch us a potential impact bat.  A Kouzmanoff trade would be a fine match for both teams. They need pen help bad and are willing to deal prospects.  Kouzmanoff can get 400 ABs easy with a little shuffling, more if he works out well.
6. Let Payton go.  Obviously.
7. Re-sign Big Hurt.  I don't think this is an absolute, and don't want the A's to make a large committment, but he is the greatest hitter the A's can afford to have, and hugely valuable.

http://sports.myway.com/news/09052006/v0395.html

[b]The Oakland Athletics claimed right-hander Jerome Williams off waivers from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, though he wasn't scheduled to immediately join the major league roster.

The A's also brought up infielder D'Angelo Jimenez from Triple-A Sacramento, to give them added depth with shortstop Bobby Crosby on the disabled list, and designated right-hander Matt Roney and infielder Mike Rouse for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster.

http://sports.myway.com/news/08062006/v3592.html

Edinson Volquez.  Kip Wells is being skipped and sent to his doctor to check out some shoulder soreness.  Volquez is a top 50 prospect and one of the DVD trio.  He's been pretty good in AAA.  120 innings with 130 Ks, but 72 BBs (9 HR).  He's got a great live arm, and swing and miss stuff, but he's lacking command.

Seems the kind of guy the A's have trouble with sometimes, but if they stay patient, there is a good chance Volquez will get himself into trouble.  He shouldn't last more than 5 innings either way, and the Rangers' pen is fairly chewed up after Eaton being ejected in the 1st today.  Should be interesting.

What do you think?

1  Daric Barton B+
2  Travis Buck B
3  Jason Windsor B
4  Kurt Suzuki B/B-
5  Jason Ray B-
6  Jared Lansford B-
7  Jeff Baisley B-
8  Kevin Mellilo C+
9  Cliff Pennington C+
10 Javier Herrera C+
11 Thomas Italiano C+/C
12 Vincent Mazzaro C
13 Shane Komine C
14 Anthony Recker C
15 Landon Powell C
16 Jimmy Schull C
17 Richie Robnett C
18 Vasili Spanos C
19 Danny Putnam C
20 Jeremy Brown C

A bit bleak.  Where am I off?

1  Is Brad Sullivan released, or just hurt again?
2  When are our catchers at every level being promoted?  Brown, Recker, Suzuki, Powell, and even Morris are all playing well, but they are all blocked from moving up this year and next, unless a couple guys change position or significantly split time.  Not so much a problem this year (though I'd definitely like to see Recker and Powell moved up), but next year it's an issue.  
3  When does Richie Robnett get promoted?  His numbers have come around to decent levels.
4  How is Baisley's defense?
5  Bocachica or Jay Payton?

How great has this fucking guy been this year?  Yeah he had a couple baserunners on today, but he pushed on through like he didn't even notice.  13 games, 0 runs. Ok, that's great, but what I really can't get over is that the dude is throwing 93 f'n mph (he even hit 94 twice today.)  Joe Kennedy lived at 88 last year, even in relief.  Five extra ticks on the fastball and this dude has gone from effective (in relief) to something a lot more than that. It's a very very exciting start to his season.  He's done a great job.  I always feel safe and secure when Huston or Duke come into the game.  Joe Kennedy is closing in on that territory also.

If Barry Zito is to be traded, flat out, Billy may not be able to get a better deal than what he could get from the Astros right now.

Brandon Backe can't throw a baseball for a minimum of six weeks.  So, the Astros now have two rookies in the rotation (Fernando Nieve and Taylor Buchholz), and one of the worst #3s in baseball (Wandy Rodriguez).  The Astros also have something very valuable: top tier minor league pitching prospects, specifically Jason Hirsch and Troy Patton.  Astros also have a good major league team, and a desperate need for good p.r. after the Bagwell and Clemens debacles.

Barry Zito for Jason Hirsch, Fernando Nieve, and  OF prospect Hunter Pence.  I think it's within reach, and if so, I think Billy ought to look very fricken hard at it.  

We have to be realistic about what Z has given us the past two years.  Solid seasons, but not irreplaceable.  With $7 million to spend on it, Billy can find us another pitcher, at midseason or sooner, without the resume maybe, but who can replace most of what Z gives us on the field (off the field, not so much, granted).

I'm not in love with idea, and I realize that at some point a line does have to be drawn in the sand, and with Thomas this year, it looks like the time to do that, but, if BB can move Z without significantly hurting this year's team, and at the same tim significantly improve the outlook of the next few teams, it may be too prudent to pass up.

"Athletics prospect Dallas Braden won't be ready for the start of the season following offseason shoulder surgery.
Braden, who used his screwball to win 15 games between Single-A Stockton and Double-A Midland last season, is expected to miss the first couple of monthsat. He'll probably head back to Midland once healthy."

Was this known and I just forgot?  Or did the A's keep it under the radar?  Either way, that's not an encouraging sign at all.  There's a good reason why not many guys use a screwball, but I imagine the guy has little value without it.