From Scout.com

"OaklandClubhouse.com has confirmed with multiple sources that infielder Tom Everidge will be replacing an injured Daric Barton on the Oakland A's 25-man roster. Everidge will be making his major league debut. He is batting .382 for Sacramento this season and .338 with 17 homers in 98 games between Sacramento and Midland. Everidge, a North Bay native, was drafted by the A's in the 10th round in 2004. He has made a slow, but steady, climb through the A's organization. The Sonoma State grad won the Texas League RBI crown last season."

I really hope he continues to mash as we need it in the worst way.

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As reported here by Susan Slusser the PTBNL is Sean Gallagher.

"GALLAGHER TO PADRES: The player to be named in the Scott Hairston deal with the Padres will be right-hander Sean Gallagher, two sources confirmed to The Chronicle. Gallagher (knee) is on the disabled list at Triple-A Sacramento and is not eligible to be sent to San Diego until he comes off the DL."

"Gallagher, obtained last July in the Rich Harden trade with the Cubs, is 3-5 with a 6.34 ERA in 17 games, 13 starts, with Oakland. He had a 1.74 ERA in five starts (202/3innings) with the River Cats this year."

Not sure how I like this trade now. I liked Gallagher a lot. We shall see.

According to ESPN's fantasy new updates, Arron Cunningham and Santiago Casilla up to the big club. Blevins down and Jeff Gray make room for Cunningham. I really hope they give Cunningham playing time as it doesnt make much sence to bring him up just to sit on the bench. Meanwhile our Pen gets stronger. Hope for Slusse rnow has her update in drumbeat blog over at SFGate.com. Lets hope Cunningham continues to mash.

"By now you may already know that Justin Duchscherer is having elbow surgery that will likely cause him to be out at least six weeks. Any reasonable A’s fan long ago stopped waiting for Justin Duchscherer."

"The interesting stuff today came from Dallas Braden, who is now almost certain to be the opening day starter. Braden pitched today in a minor-league game. Five days from now is next Wednesday and five days from that is opening day, April 6. The A’s haven’t announced Braden as the opening day starter, but today I said to him: “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to count to five and then count to five again…”

From link below:

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Beane was on Baseball Tonight talking about the new ballpark efforts. He said that as long as they are in the current situation the roster turn overs will have to continue untill a new park is built. He also said that this was the first year that he had heard back from free agents saying they didnt wanna play in an old facility and that ballpark. So heres to hoping something can be worked out soon. Hopefully before our current crop of young players hit free agency. The show will prob be re-aired again tonight at some point if you wanna check it out.

It wasnt too long ago that our system was very average with the major league club payroll inflated with little room for flexibility. Now we have a team that is capable of winning this year with a very manageable payroll, and the best farm system in the MLB. Our future here at AN looks very bright. Beane has done a wonderfull job over the past two years. I have to admit I didnt like the idea of trading Swisher/Haren at the time but now my view has changed dramaticaly. Here to another 6-7 year run at the ultimate prize like 2000-2006. Great job Billy.

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Just got to thinking today. Will we ever have a "Superstar" for more than 3-4 years? I mean if we are fortunate to produce a Pujols like player from our farm system. I figure year number one would would be a learning year while being pretty good. Year two he becomes a very good player. Year three he a 300/380/550 type hitter. Now we have 3 years left of arbitration before hes a FA. And I figure if Beane knows he cant sign him, he will trade him in years 5 or 6, or just let him walk like Tejada or Zito did.

So.. in this hypotetical situation do any of you see a big name player fans can hang their hats on in Oakland? Does revenue sharing/luxurey tax help us at all? Does a new stadium help us? Or are we just small market and should get used to turn over ever 6-7 years. I for one know Im getting sick of all our great players wearing other uniforms.

Now that Teixeria has signed with the Yankees for about  22.5 Million dollars per year for 8 years, I think that pretty much seals Holliday's fate in Oakland. Boras will trot him out at the end of the 2009 season and get him a similar deal.

Holliday has a better career BA, OBP, and SLG. However Tex is the better defender, with his Gold Glove D at first base.

So. Now I think Billy Beane must trade Matt around the ASB and finally bring home a top of the line hitting prospect thats close to the MLB level. Or an established MLB bat that is young and cost controlled. I think theres no chance we sign him to an extention. Nor do I think a first round and supplemental first round pick is worth enough for him.

So what say you Athletics Nation? Trade, Keep and let go, or Sign Holliday for 7 years 150 Mil?

For me. If Im Billy Beane and I wanna spend money on the next great A's hitter. I spend it on Holliday. But.. I just dont think we can afford him.

"For most of the off-season, it appeared that the Oakland A's were going to be able to re-sign minor league free agent Jesus Guzman, who won the Texas League batting title this season, his first as part of the A's organization. However, at the last minute, the A's cross-town rivals, the San Francisco Giants, got Guzman to sign with them instead. The Giants are looking at a wide open competition at third base next season, and Guzman may have figured that the Giants presented a better big league opportunity than the A's."

There goes one of our Chavez back up plans. Looks like just Baisley/Hannahan remains.

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The Oakland A's announced on Friday that they had declined the 2009 option on veteran left-hander Alan Embree.

"In an unsurprising move, the Oakland A's declined their 2009 option on left-handed reliever Alan Embree. Embree went 2-5 with a 4.96 ERA in 70 appearances last season for Oakland, his second year with the A's. Oakland has filled the veteran's 40-man roster spot with infielder Joe Dillon, who had been cut by the Milwaukee Brewers earlier in the week."

Link: Here