The Oakland Athletics – yes, the Oakland Athletics of the small payroll and huge stadium problems – are dominating the trade deadline.
A friend of Billy Beane told me last winter the Oakland general manager was not going to be restrained any longer, that he was frustrated by the perception of himself and a franchise that could get to the playoffs but not advance. Word was he was going for it. Boy, has he.
He traded his best prospect, shortstop Addison Russell, to the Cubs on July 5 for Jeff Samardzija. And he was willing to give up his cleanup hitter, Yoenis Cespedes, to the Red Sox to get Jon Lester.
While most front offices operate out of fear at this time of year, Beane’s A’s stand out: Bold. Aggressive. Unafraid.
Oakland is no longer trying to improve at the margins. Some ambitious Hollywood executive needs to get Brad Pitt on speed dial for “Moneyball II: Going For It.”
So, the best team in the majors just got better. But it now has the kind of pressure not usually associated with Oakland A’s.
For all the work they have done, the A’s still only led the Angels by 2 1/2 games in the AL West. So Oakland’s first business is winning the division because to do this much and be in the precarious spot of having to play a one-game wild card playoff would make all these efforts folly, particularly if they lost.
But it really can’t stop there – Oakland is now the favorite to, at the least, represent the AL in the World Series and maybe to win it.
And Lester is ideal for such an endeavor. The lefty is 6-4 with a 2.11 ERA in 13 postseason games (11 starts), including 3-0 with a 0.43 ERA in the World Series. But he also is a workhorse having his best season (10-7, 2.52 ERA) who should help the rest of the rotation.
Sonny Gray is a wonderful young pitcher, but he is in the midst of throwing by far the most innings of his life. Scott Kazmir has been reborn, but has never thrown more than 158 innings in a season since 2007. Samardzija has never started a big game. Lester should offer some form of protection, leadership and example for this group.
If all goes well, Oakland has that impressive quartet plus either Jason Hammel or Jesse Chavez – perhaps even a six-man rotation for a bit to provide extra rest.
Keep in mind that before this season even began Oakland lost projected Opening Day starter Jarrod Parker, plus A.J. Griffin. Yet those blows to the rotation did not stop Oakland from playing well, dreaming big and executive a daring plan that has the A’s as the team to beat.
Oakland sent a competitive balance pick along with Cespedes to the Red Sox, who also sent back Jonny Gomes. The A’s then dealt Tommy Milone to the Twins for Sam Fuld.
Initially, Fuld will play center field while Coco Crisp and Craig Gentry heal from injuries. Eventually, he could be in a left field platoon with Gomes to replace Cespedes, who is a huge loss considering his massive righty power.
However, Cespedes signed a four-year contract with Oakland. If he is not signed by the end of the fourth year, he can become a free agent rather than wait for the normal six. Thus, Oakland was going to control him only through 2015.
And these Oakland A’s are not thinking about 2015 or the long-term future. Billy Beane and his crew are going for it.