Bemorewins

Next year’s problems/dilemmas will come when they arrive. And we can address those things when the appropriate time comes. This season we are playing for a World Series and only have one weak spot on the team… high leverage, weapon at the back of the pen (closer).

The defensive ability of those guys is a real issue. I agree with that. The issue with the age, is that they would be willing to offload a 25 year uber talent, not in exchange for another 25 year old because that is not their time line. No matter how well Kjerstad/Stowers/Cowser, etc do now, it does nothing for the A’s because they don’t have a strong enough roster around those guys to win right now. Nor do they have the org structure to support winning because their franchise’s future is in so much flux right now given their possible relocation. I am very confident that another suitor could and would beat a Norby, Stowers, McDermott and Tavera (and other spare part) offer. In order to get real value, you have to give up real value (usually). I agree that GMs will want to see/evaluate the Miller show for a bit more time before committing to trade for him. Thankfully the trade deadline is months away. And yes, he is not/will not be our only option. But again, we won’t be able to find a better talent than him.

He’s not coming back this season. A starter is not what we need right now. Maybe if there are injuries by the deadline we may need that too? But right now with the roster as currently constructed, we don’t have a closer who Inwouod trust to pitch (and be consistently successful) in October.

The A’s will have no use for Stowers as a serious trade chip. Maybe he’s a throw in along with the major pieces? But he in no way is equivalent of Kjerstad or Cowser. Furthermore if you have questions/concerns about Cowser, you don’t think they will? You don’t think that they are aware of his issues and that their evaluators/scouts can watch film of him butchering plays? Kjerstad is 25 now (already in his prime). Why would the A’s trade Miller for him? Miller has 5 more years of control. Their whole rationale for wanting to move Miller is to sacrifice the now for the later (buying years in the future and sacrificing the present). They are likely to want guys who are you and/or guys further away from MLB but still have tremendous upside. Povich/McDermott/Johnson? I guess they can be used as add ons. But I can’t see those kind of guys being main pieces for an EXTREMELY VALUABLE commodity like Miller. Miller has the ability to be the best late inning weapon in the sport and he has FIVE more years of control after this season. That kind of player is not going to be acquired for spare parts. We are going to have to beat other offers for him.

I don’t think that Miller will be then ONLY move that we can make. But he will be the BEST acquisition that we can make.

There is no guarantee of that whatsoever. It is possible that we could be betting a World Series on that. I’m not saying that we have to trade him. But I am strongly in the camp that we HAVE to upgrade from Kimbrel (when the time comes) if we want to win a championship. Miller is so much better than Kimbrel. And then next season we could have Miller and Bautista in the same bullpen! A Miller acquisition may make it possible for back-to-back World Series runs/championships. Would that be worth giving up Basallo (even if he becomes Mauer/Piazza/Posey)?

That trade may not be there to be made. Who knows? Let me ask you, would you rather trade Mayo or Basallo if you had to choose one?

In 2012- 2016 we had so few prospects and we never had anything close to a team as young and as talented as this one. The only thing those teams had that is better than this one is a better bullpen. EVERYTHING else about this team is superior.

Kjerstad is already 25 (in his prime) this kind of player has very little appeal to the A’s. According to the article (and it makes sense to me) they are looking for players who will be ready in a couple of years when they are ready to win. Not now. Kjerstad is likely to be toward the back end of his prime when the A’s are even ready to start competing.

Thanks for sharing this! The OP was on to something with the notion of Basallo. That is the kind of guy that the A’s will covet. I’m not sure the O’s will be willing to give him up. But I hope that there is place to add a high end back end of the bullpen guy because I feel uncomfortable with a team this good relying on Kimbrel with our season (possibly the championship) on the line.

Roy, You don’t have to apologize for anything! You fan however you want. If you choose to believe in the Big Bad Wolf Boogeyman, you got right ahead…lol But you continue to see like my 7 yr-old that there is nothing scary under the bed or in the closet…lol No, seriously you seem like a really cool dude who cares a lot about his team. Keep being who you are!

I agree. They very much have a stars and scrubs lineup. Can’t really afford for the stars not to be the stars.

That win and this series (as a whole) was very satisfying! I hope some of you got a chance to witness first hand that the Yankees are a good team, with very good pitching, but certainly nothing to fear. We are the better ball club.

If his prime is 40- 60 home runs with a .400 on base, there would be a gradual decline (you would think) not this. Where he is a liability in their lineup.

He’s not an ogre though. He’s a great athlete. It’s hard for me to conceive that he went from HOF to hall of terrible in one offseason.

Wow. I have never see Judge look this bad. Like ever! Against any team. Glad it’s our’s though.

It is between him and Adley. With most dangerous being Gunnar. It might be time to move Westy up to the top 3.

Ball game! Westburg is come kind of ballplayer! Wow, we have some budding stars on this team.

As great as Soto is with the bat, he is butcher with the glove.

I mean if that is “your” strike zone, you gotta call it down the middle and the same for both teams.

This umpire is ….. T.E.R.R.I.B.L.E.

Maybe? He’s definitely more experienced out there playing LF at the yard.

I love what we have seen from Bradish today sans Cowser. Cowser is out here looking like his own blooper real.

Look at McKenna & Mateo showing out!!!!

From my understanding, you use the word “super” with the term utility when you are referring to someone who plays INF position(s) along with OF position(s). I don’t think it has anything to do with ability.