[EDITOR'S NOTE: I really like this move. Stewart can be a really great leadoff hitter and is very good defensively when he's healthy. Of course that's a big caveat because he hasn't been that healthy in recent seasons. He was healthiest in 2005 and before that 2003. This is a really good depth move and I like the fact that it was an incentive-laden contract. I do feel much better about it. The person who shouldn't? Dan Johnson.

I would not be surprised in the least to see Swisher back at first base and Stewart in left field as long as Kotsay remains healthy. If not, DJ is at first, Swisher in right, Bradley in center and Stewart or Kielty in left depending on matchups. Suddenly the team got quite a bit deeper by one move. As long as Stewart is healthy, of course. Oh and remember, Stewart has quite a bit of experience leading off. - Blez]

ESPN's Buster Olney is reporting that the A's have agreed to a 1-year incentive-laden deal that could reach 2.5 million dollars. Perhaps Beane is working a little on that depth issue after all.  If Stewart can stay healthy being off the fake grass, maybe he helps replace Jay Payton.

Huston Street has been placed on the 15-day D.L.  Ron Flores has been called back up.  I expected if this happened, they would wait until Halsey was due to come back up.  Poor Flores can't get settled anywhere.

Here's the link:

http://x.go.com/cgi/x.pl?goto=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2555425&name=FPT-25554 25-082012&srvc=sz

From Buster Olney's chat this morning, in response to my question:

Dennis (Eureka, CA): What do you expect to see this week in the A's/Angels series? Do the A's close the gap on the Halo's? Also, do you see Beane involved in any more deals before the deadline?

 Buster Olney: Dennis: Oakland is the Giacomo of the American League, without question -- streaking up from behind the pack, mostly unnoticed, with a history of incredible closing speed. And let's face it: The Yankees have pitching problems, the Orioles have pitching problems, the Red Sox having pitchign problems, the Rangers have major pitching problems -- and Oakland might have the best pitching in the league, standing 2 1/2 games behind in the wildcard. I'm sure Billy will be aggressive in the next two weeks, because he and the Oakland players have worked themselves back into contention, and deserve enormous credit. I know I wrote them off, when they started 15-30....

One by one, the ESPN "experts" (cough, cough) are falling in line with believing in the A's.  Interesting to see that he believes the A's will still be active before the deadline.

It appears that what many of us believed to be the case has been confirmed by Ken Macha:  Yabu will make the opening day roster in one capacity or another.  The article also suggests that Etherton only will make the team as a starter, whereas Saarloos could join the bullpen if Yabu is in the rotation.

Here's the link.  Hope it works.

http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/localCheck?linkId=923265  

John,

My minor league knowledge is very limited, although I hope to change that this year through this site.

I am wondering:  if you could assemble a 25-man roster that would contain your brightest prospects from each position, what would it look like?  I am looking more for future potential to be a star than if they are currently major-league ready.

As an A's fan, I am curious how many, if any, would make that team.

I know this is more of a question than a diary, but I figured this could start some good discussion on some talented minor-leaguers.

If anyone else wants to take a crack at it, even better.

Thanks.

Judging by the Beane interview (Part 1), the ideal plan would be to have Haren, Blanton, and Meyer all start the year in the big-league rotation. Following that plan, and now that the Cameron for Byrnes/Bradford deal seems dead, who would be the odd man out of our bullpen?  My guess is we will have a 12 man staff, leaving seven in the 'pen.

One would think Dotel, Calero, Cruz, Rincon, Duchsherer, and Bradford are locks, which leaves the last spot between Yabu, Etherton, and Johnson.  Do we go with Rincon as the only lefty?  If not, where does that leave Yabu and Etherton?

Granted, there is a good chance one of the young starters go to AAA, which puts Yabu or Etherton in the rotation and leaves the other to battle with Johnson.  But should all three break camp, does Beane consider another Bradford deal?  Or does Johnson get offered back?

Any thoughts?

Instead of Cameron, who costs too much and doesn't seem like the perfect fit, why don't we make another run at Kearns.  I know they were asking for Harden before, but that was before the Randa signing made their outfield so crowded.  How about this for a 3-way...

A's get: Kearns from the Reds
         Valverde from the D-backs

D-backs get: Byrnes and Mabeus from the A's
             prospect from the Reds

Reds get: Cruz and Baker from the A's
          Cintron from the D'backs

I'm not sure this is even for all sides, but I imagine with a little tweaking we could get there.  Any thoughts?

An observation on our newest A's:

Juan Cruz:  a servicable middle reliever that will fill a need in our bullpen. Probably not a guy to consistently protect a one-run eighth inning lead, but an inning-eater in the middle.  I think last year showed he is useful when used in the right situations.

Dan Meyer:  our 5th starter?  Another lefty.  Good numbers throughout the minors.  Is he ready?  Only time will tell.  I trust BB to know he is the real deal.  Prediction here is he becomes a #3 starter.  Nothing wrong with that.

Charles Thomas:  He is the wild-card in the deal in my opinion.  Some on this site have compared him to T-Long, and that could be possible.  But, then again, perhaps he continues to improve.  I do remember several highlight catches he made last year, his glove is above-average.  His offensive numbers were decent for a rookie.  Should they continue to improve, perhaps he turns into another Kotsay-type player.  I think most of us would be fine with that.

I wonder what our opening day outfield is going to look like.  I feel Beane envisions Thomas as more than this year's Kielty.  Does Thomas's arrival signal Byrnes's departure?  I think the A's are committed to running Swisher out there every day.  I think Byrnes could be dealt rather than given salary arbitration.

I hate to see Hudson leave, and question whether or not a better deal was possible.  But if Thomas and Meyer blossom, this could turn into a good deal after all.

I am relatively new to this site and have been impressed with the knowledge of some of the fellow A's fan that frequent here.  There has been a lot of discuss about different deals out there for Hudson.  We know most of them by now.

To the Braves for Giles, Meyer, etc.

To the Orioles for Bedard, Ryan, Mora?, etc.

To the Phillies for their great prospects

To the White Sox for Lee, Marte, etc.

To the Cardinals for Haren, Marquis, etc.

Or is there another team out there?

What do we think is the best fit for the A's?  I like the idea of putting Giles at second base myself, and would like to see Hudson have his homecoming.  Any thoughts?