After trading shortstop Cliff Pennington to Arizona for outfielder Chris Young and losing Pennington's eventual successor Stephen Drew in free agency to the Boston Red Sox, the Oakland A's once again took to the international market to fill a void.One year after striking gold with the signing of Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes to a four-year contract, A's general manger Billy Beane filled the hole at shortstop with the signing of Japanese infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima to a two-year, $6.5 million contract according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.Slusser also reported that the A's had come close to a trade ...
The Oakland Athletics have reportedly taken to the international free-agent market to fill their void at shortstop.CBS' Jon Heyman had the news (via CBS' Matt Snyder):The Oakland Athletics have filled their hole at shortstop, as they've signed Hiroyuki Nakajima out of Japan, CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman reports. The A's have issued a press release saying there will be a major announcement Tuesday, so that's likely when they'll officially announce the deal.San Francisco Chronicle reporter Susan Slusser made a note regarding the contract details:
It's two years for Nakajima at $6.5 million, and a third year option. #Athletics— Susan Slusser ...
The Oakland A's were not going to be the biggest players in free agency this winter. So far, they have made a nice move to acquire Chris Young, but mostly the status quo remains in effect. A lot of that is due in part because of the fact that the majority of the major parts are locked up and young (Anderson, Cespedes, Reddick and Parker).But that does not mean the A's don't have the potential to make roster moves in 2013. However, the chances appear greater that those moves will be within the organization. There are a likely trio of ...
It was a big day in Major League Baseball today, and it indirectly affects the team I'm writing about. The top free agent in the game (Josh Hamilton, if you didn't know) signed a five year, $125 million contract to join the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. What this does is increase the rivalry between the power teams of the American League West: The Angels and Hamilton's former team, the Texas Rangers. This stokes the fire for what should be a compelling 2013 race...uh wait?The only problem with this sweeping narrative is that neither the Rangers nor the Angels won the ...
The Arizona Diamondbacks solidified their starting rotation this week with the addition of former Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy. McCarthy, the Opening Day starter for Oakland in 2012, was plagued by injuries throughout the season, which ultimately came to an end after being struck in the head by a line drive against the Angels in September. A 29-year-old journeyman, McCarthy found his niche as a starter in Oakland. Over two seasons with the A’s, McCarthy posted a 3.29 ERA and 196 strikeouts. Without McCarthy, the A’s rotation is still one that is both strong and young. In 2012, the Oakland ...
If there’s one thing we learned through Sunday night’s six-player trade between the Kansas City Royals and Tampa Bay Rays, it’s that Royals GM Dayton Moore really, really wanted James Shields.Although he ultimately got his man—as well as Wade Davis—it came at the steep price of top prospect Wil Myers, top pitching prospect Jake Odorizzi, former top pitching prospect Mike Montgomery, and 20-year-old third baseman Patrick Leonard, who’s far less notable relative to the aforementioned players. Before Moore ultimately traded away a healthy chunk of the team’s future, there were ongoing rumors that he was pushing for a straight trade ...
Free agency is in full swing with the start of the MLB Winter Meetings in Nashville Monday. While there are always rumors, nothing is definitive with the Oakland A's other than you just never know what Billy Beane might do. Well that and the departure of Jonny Gomes, who signed a two-year deal with the Boston Red Sox.So of the remaining free agents the A's have left to try to re-sign, there has been no word one way or another how things will shake out. But that is precisely what this time of year is for: speculation. I'll throw my ...
The Kansas City Royals have made it clear: No. 1 prospect Wil Myers is available for major league, top-of-the-rotation pitchers—like Oakland Athletics ace Jarrod Parker. But should the ever-rebuilding A's kick the tires around regarding a Parker-for-Myers swap? It's an intriguing inquiry for sure. Considering general manager Billy Beane's tenacity for making big splashes in the trade market, a trade on this level wouldn't necessarily shock anyone. But would the acquisition be worth the sacrifice? First, it would have to be Parker. With the Royals seeking such high-quality pitching, if the two teams did exchange player names, the demand would ...
Once again and for the last time, let's look back at the special season that was 2012 for the Oakland A's. From Bob Melvin to Yoenis Cespedes to Josh Reddick to Jonny Gomes to Ryan Cook to Josh Donaldson, this was a team that truly was greater than the sum of its parts. As a journalist, they were fun to cover because it brought back memories of the early 2000s.But as a fan, I have never had more fun watching an A's team than the one in 2012. They defied expectations, a sluggish start and more rookies than a police ...
The Oakland Athletics better hope they can sign free-agent shortstop Stephen Drew, because the fallback plans are limited and bleak. If the A's look to free agents outside of Drew, they'll likely be disappointed. Free-agent options include Jason Bartlett, Ronny Cedeno, Alberto Gonzalez, Alex Gonzalez, Cesar Itzuris, Marco Scutaro and Yuniesky Betancourt. Scutaro is the best of these men, but the San Francisco Giants would be wise to re-sign the once-upon-a-time Athletic due to his overachieving performance down the stretch in 2012. Everyone else comes with age, injury risk and concerns of underwhelming hitting. With Oakland considered to be serious contenders again in ...