I was reading  a list of 2011 FA, and I noticed Jimmy Rollins will be a free agent at the end of next season.  He has a 8.5 mill club option with a 2 mil buyout.   While I do know that Grant Green is the future at shortstop, there is always the chance that he won't pan out, or the chance that he just won't be ready by 2011 or 2012.  

I think that Philly will most likely exercise their option.  However, I think that in the event the Phillies don't pull the trigger that he would be a good fit in Oakland.  2011/2012 looks like a team with very few offensive veterans.  Rollins is an Oakland native, and even if he experiences the statistical dip from NL to AL (especially from a hitters park, to Oakland), speed and defense don't slump.  Rollins has won two consecutive gold gloves at short, and will most likely win the gg this year too.  Considering the fact the A's have adopted a more aggressive style on the bases, Rollins would definitely contribute.    I also believe that in a team that has almost no playoff experience that Rollins will help in the event we make the playoffs.  Granted Rollins hasn't lit it up in the playoffs, .229 BA, .289 OBP, it still might help to have a calming influence on the young offense.  

However I think that Rollins career .329 OBP will hurt his value in BB's eyes, and the serious decline in OPS from .875 (career high) in 2007 to his current .719 this season.  Also if Rollins decides to buy out of his contract that means he has reason to believe that the market will offer him a larger contract.  In which case I don't see the A's signing him unless Green and Pennington tank.

In all probability he won't make it to the Free Agent market, and it s even more unlikely that he will sign with Oakland. It is the offseason and I like to peer in the future and speculate.  I'm just interested to hear some of your thoughts on the issue.  Thanks.

Ryan Sweeney and Daric Barton are out of their minds right now.  Both are playing at a high level, and in my mind, are very important factors to the A's contending in the near future.  

One of the biggest mysteries to me is the unexplainable dislike of Ryan Sweeney (not personally, just his play).  Ryan Sweeney is now hitting .295, and his .  He is only 24 years old has a great arm, plays a good outfield, but doesn't hit for that much power, yet.  I firmly believe Ryan will develop power, but unfortunately I have little stats to prove that.  That is the only real hole in his game.   People love to say Buck and Patterson deserve time over Sweeney.  I like Travis Buck, a lot.  I won't pretend to have any real affection for Patterson, but I have nothing against them.  I fail to see how Travis Buck or Eric Patterson would be better players than Ryan.  Buck and Patterson have the same problem Sweeney has, lack of power, and neither play the OF as well as Sweeney, and only Buck has put together a quality Major League season.    Granted Patterson has had a monster AAA season/career, he has shown very little of that in the MLB, without many AB's.  What I am trying to say is "Why should't Sweeney play?"  He is young.  He is improving.  He plays well as it is, not great but well.  Everything has improved from last year to this.  The same cannot be said about Buck, or Patterson (although again, Eric hasn't been given much of a chance.)  People seem to want to keep giving Buck a chance, despite his tankage.  Sweeney hasn't lit the world up, but he has been a good solid player, oppose to Buck's flashy year, which was marginally better, only .002 points higher 1 Hr more .027 points OBP, and a considerable difference in slugging.  However, I reiterate, Buck has only decline, while Ryan is improving.  

I don't feel that Barton has been "thrown under the bus" by AN, but I think that people seem to overlook him when mentioning Wallace/Carter.  Since his most recent call up Daric is hitting .326, with basically no HR power but I really believe that will also change with some lineup support.  

My ideal lineup by 2012 (with the recent addition of Grant Green)

1. Rajai-CF (yes I think he can be an everyday player)

2. Sweeney-RF 

3. Barton-1B

4. Carter DH

5. Wallace-3B

6. Deseme-LF

7. Suzuki-C

8. Green/Pennington-SS

9. Weeks/Cardenas 2B

Assuming the hitting develops, that is a very nice combination of Speed/Power/Patience/Average.  A very versatile offense.

Apparently Grant Green was given a tour of the Coliseum on Tuesday, and Billy Beane began contract talks with the devil.  

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that A's first rounder Grant Green toured the Oakland Coliseum yesterday. His representative, Scott Boras, met with A's GM Billy Beane, who says he expects to sign Green.

Good news for the A's I suppose, but if they want to sign Green I don't know why they are giving him a tour of the Coliseum?

There may have been mention of this but I'm not sure so I thought I'd make this known.

Link

I'm a big fan of young Dominican talent, and this guy seems to be another incredible talent out of the small Carribean island.  ESPN did this cool article on him.  Also seeing as its a position we do need help at, Sano seems not only to be a great talent, but one that would seriously help be our SS-less lineup.  Granted, Green (haha) may pan out, but AM PM has assured me that there is no such thing as too much of a good thing. 

I know Sano's name has been brought up before on AN, but I thought I would try to "re-up" the conversation.

First off does any body know if he has actually signed a contract?  I read somewhere that he would decide July 2nd, but I can't find an article declaring who he went to.  

Speaking of Dominican talent...

Does anybody know when Inoa will make his first start?  I know he had elbow problems, but all I read was soreness.  Any insight to that?

I thought that some of you older fans may appreciate this.  I know Carney was a popular player back here in the late '80's and early 90's.   I saw this article on the A's page today and I thought that in case somebody missed checking the A's site they'd like to take a look at this article.  It is about father and son so that is kinda cool too.

Lansfords

Just a cool little article.  

 Let's Go Oakland!

According to Buster Onley

But according to a union source, the free agent infielder now has another alternative to consider: The Oakland Athletics, who have been fishing around for an infielder.

Not such a good move I would say.  Nomar hasn't been Nomar in quite some time, and although he is cheap his production is similar to Crosby, but Crosby is younger.  

Apparently there is a possibility of signing O-Cab and Nomar but it is not likely.

If the Athletics sign Cabrera, he likely would supplant Bobby Crosby as the team's everyday shortstop. It's unclear whether Oakland would be willing to sign both Cabrera and Garciaparra, but given the Athletics' budget restraints, that would seem to be unlikely.

Seems like a lot of work for a minor upgrade to me.  Speaking of which does any body have CHONE on Nomar?

Link

What I think the starting lineup will look like..

CF-Sweeney

C-Suzuki

LF/RF- Cust

LF/RF- Holliday

1B- Giambi

3B- Chavez

2B- Ellis

SS- Crosby

DH- Buck/Barton/Cunnigham

Starting Pitching

1. Duke

2. Gallagher

3. Braden/Outman

4. Gonzalez

5. Eveland

Pen

CL- Devine/Ziggy

SU- Devine/Ziggy

MR- Casilla

MR- Blevins

MR -Brown

MR- Springer

LR- Outman/Braden

Now I think thats a solid team.  I think we can honestly get into the playoffs with that, especially if Cahill/Anderson can come up mid to late season and make a nice impact.

But the question is can this team win the World Series, because playing to get into the playoffs is nice and all, but there really is only one purpose to play the game and thats to win it all.  If this is what we are going to settle for in terms of a one year run at the playoffs/WS I think we would be better off trading for some offensive prospects.  

Now names like Sheets and Cabrera are being thrown around.  Is Cabrera really going to be that much of an upgrade over Crosby?  Despite his performance, Crosby didn't have the worst year on the team, he was 3rd on the A's in BA.  I understand the frustration, but to throw money at a player who is older, more expensive, and slightly more productive is just stupid.  

As for Sheets, I personally like the idea, but the one question is what kind of deal would you want to give him?  A player of Sheets caliber and pride isn't going to want to be told that he is a simple one or two year pitcher to simply let the young guys grow, and he isn't going to expect to be paid like it.  

So what are your thoughts?  Does signing OCab, or Sheets make THAT much of a difference?

First before you read this notice the *potential*.  

What about Mark Prior?  I know we have depth pitching, but when this guy is healthy, he can pitch.  Yes I know that he hasn't been healthy in about 4 years.  If the A's could work out an incentive deal, the could pick up a low risk potential #1 or 2 pitcher.  Again, I know it is unlikely and that its a position of depth for the A's, but a little more depth never hurts.  The very issue that makes it unlikely we will sign him makes him a very attractible commodity.  He is hurt, therefore cheap.                                                         

I know I am probably about the billionth person to complain about the offense, but what I want to ask is if there is any trade or FA signing this off-season that will actually help us become contenders again.  Obviously we can pitch we have about 10 good starters coming up, but really where is the hitting in the minors.  The best guys (age included) that I find are in either AA or A ball and even then we really seem to lack that cornerstone offensive player.  Sure we have a group of guys that can hit maybe 20 bombs and steal 30 bags, or the players that will hit .220 with 30 bombs.  I just don't see the Big Mac, Giambi, or Tejada anywhere in our farm close to being ready for the majors.  This isn't to say we don't have a talented farm system.

 So does anybody think we may sign somebody like Pat Burrell this off-season to give us a chance to contend again?   I personally think he may not be such a bad sign, but his price tag is going to be high and it seems that most of our offensive talent lies in the outfield.  I know it is unlikely that we can legitimately contend for a WS next year, but it would be a nice change of pace to score some runs.  I also know that it is usually the best move to sit and wait for the minors to develop, but by the time we develop our minors will this pitching be gone?

So if somebody sees a solution please tell me.  Also what level is this Inoa/Iona (sp?) going to play at?

I know a little about the A's farm system down there, Cahill, Lansford, and Horton.  As a devout A's fan is there anybody else I should watch or pay attention to?  Also does anybody know when and where Rich Harden is doing his rehab start?  And Travis Buck?  Alright so right now I'm under the limit I need to post a diary so I'm just going to ramble for a little bit.  Anybody know what the stadium is like at Stockton?  I heard they got a brand new one.