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Kevdog1020 · 08-16-2016, 06:53 PM

Fire Sale: A’s Blow Up Roster at the Deadline, Look Towards the Future
August 1, 2016

Sitting just 6.5 games out of first place at the deadline, many were unsure whether the Athletics would be buyers or sellers. However after the barrage of trades pulled off by David Forst over the last week, it’s clear which direction the A’s are going. Forst pulled off four blockbuster deals to catapult the Athletics to the 4^th best-ranked minor league system in the league, according to the Baseball News Network. Forst promised a different roster and he sure delivered. He shipped 12 players out of Oakland in total while bringing in 9 players, many among the top prospects in the league.

He kicked off the trading frenzy with a deal on July 25^th. Forst sent RF Josh Reddick, 2B Joey Wendle (AAA), and SP Raul Alcantara (A) to Cleveland for CF Clint Frazier (A), SP Mike Clevinger (AAA) and SP Ryan Merrit (AA). Frazier was the crown jewel of the deal and projects to be an All-Star caliber CF with lots of power. The 21-year old’s lone weakness is his strikeout rate, but he should improve it with more seasoning in the minors. Clevinger has middle of the rotation potential, and has gone 7-6 with a 4.14 ERA this season in AAA with the Indians. The 25-year old could make his Major League debut this fall if he plays his cards right. If not, he will be looking for a roster spot come spring training. Last but not least is Ryan Merrit, who is a fringe prospect who has a shot to make the big league roster. Despite his role as a starter in the minors, his most likely path to the bigs would come through a bullpen spot.

Reddick became a hot commodity when it became apparent that the A’s were not going to be in playoff contention this season and when it was announced he would be looking for a long-term deal with an annual value of more than $15 million per year. The A’s will still have the ability to sign him back should he reach free agency, but this deal looks like a better return than the compensation they would receive after extending a qualifying offer.

The final three trades occurred on the last day of the season in the final minutes. These trades were likely discussed in the weeks prior to the deadline, but didn’t gain traction until the A’s decided to go into full fire sale mode.

Trade 2: Oakland trades 3B Danny Valencia, SP Chris Bassitt and C Bryan Anderson (AAA) to Kansas City for SS Raul Mondesi (AA) and SP Garrett Davila (R).

Despite having the tools to do so, Valencia just wasn’t getting the job done in Oakland after they claimed him on waivers in the off-season from the Blue Jays. He was hitting just .205 with 9 HR and 37 RBI and there were rumors the Athletics might decline to offer him arbitration this offseason. The A’s were able to get younger here in acquiring Raul Mondesi, who’s already a gold glove caliber shortstop with blazing speed. Some scouts even say could be a .310 hitter when all is said and done. The A’s also got 19-year old Garrett Davila, who projects to be a #2 or #3 starter in 4-5 seasons. He was drafted by the Royals in the 4^th round out of South Point (NC) High School in the 2015 amateur draft. Bassitt had been pitching incredibly well for the A’s, but that’s just the price that has to be paid when acquiring good, young talent.

Trade 3: Oakland trades DH Billy Butler to the Houston Astros for C/DH Evan Gattis and 1B AJ Reed (AAA).

This trade was almost purely a salary dump. The Athletics were able to unload the underperforming Butler’s nearly $15 million commitment for this year and next. In return, they got Evan Gattis who can take Butler’s spot in the lineup. Gattis is due to make $5.2 million next season should the A’s pick up his option, but will owe him only this years remaining $1.7 million should they let him walk. Add in power hitting 23-year old 1B AJ Reed and the A’s most certainly won this trade as well. An anonymous front office executive said that Reed is a cleanup hitter in the making that could bat .270 and hit 30 homeruns.

Trade 4: Oakland trades MR John Axford, MR Ryan Madson, SP Zach Neal (AAA), 1B Mark Canha (AAA) and C Jose Rivas (R) to the Tigers for LF Christin Stewart (A) and SP Beau Burrows (A).

Another big salary dump, the A’s were able to unload over $20 million in future commitments to two aging relief pitchers and in return got a couple prospects with high ceilings. Neal, Canha and Rivas were additional throw-ins that were removed from the A’s plans after all the other high profile moves that were made. Christin Stewart has the makings of a very good role player and left-handed bat off the bench, while 19-year old Beau Burrows has star potential written all over him. Burrows was the 22^nd overall pick in the 2015 draft, and has quickly catapulted himself all the way up to low-A ball where he sports a 4.08 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 22 starts. He could very well be the best prospect acquired this deadline when looked back up in 10-15 seasons.

Some additional housekeeping:

With the subtractions, the Athletics’ salary commitments for this season dropped to $45.8 million. They are projected to be $65.7 million, leaving plenty of room for a free agent signing or two.
With all of the moves, a boatload of roster spots opened up. To fill the roster, the A’s selected SP Felix Doubrount, RP Henderson Alvarez & RP Aaron Kurcz to fill out the bullpen and LF Andrew Lambo and IF Josh Rodriguez to complete their lineup.

08-16-2016, 06:53 PM	#11
Kevdog1020 Major Leagues Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: New York Posts: 430	Fire Sale: A’s Blow Up Roster at the Deadline, Look Towards the Future August 1, 2016 Sitting just 6.5 games out of first place at the deadline, many were unsure whether the Athletics would be buyers or sellers. However after the barrage of trades pulled off by David Forst over the last week, it’s clear which direction the A’s are going. Forst pulled off four blockbuster deals to catapult the Athletics to the 4^th best-ranked minor league system in the league, according to the Baseball News Network. Forst promised a different roster and he sure delivered. He shipped 12 players out of Oakland in total while bringing in 9 players, many among the top prospects in the league. He kicked off the trading frenzy with a deal on July 25^th. Forst sent RF Josh Reddick, 2B Joey Wendle (AAA), and SP Raul Alcantara (A) to Cleveland for CF Clint Frazier (A), SP Mike Clevinger (AAA) and SP Ryan Merrit (AA). Frazier was the crown jewel of the deal and projects to be an All-Star caliber CF with lots of power. The 21-year old’s lone weakness is his strikeout rate, but he should improve it with more seasoning in the minors. Clevinger has middle of the rotation potential, and has gone 7-6 with a 4.14 ERA this season in AAA with the Indians. The 25-year old could make his Major League debut this fall if he plays his cards right. If not, he will be looking for a roster spot come spring training. Last but not least is Ryan Merrit, who is a fringe prospect who has a shot to make the big league roster. Despite his role as a starter in the minors, his most likely path to the bigs would come through a bullpen spot. Reddick became a hot commodity when it became apparent that the A’s were not going to be in playoff contention this season and when it was announced he would be looking for a long-term deal with an annual value of more than $15 million per year. The A’s will still have the ability to sign him back should he reach free agency, but this deal looks like a better return than the compensation they would receive after extending a qualifying offer. The final three trades occurred on the last day of the season in the final minutes. These trades were likely discussed in the weeks prior to the deadline, but didn’t gain traction until the A’s decided to go into full fire sale mode. *Trade 2:* Oakland trades 3B Danny Valencia, SP Chris Bassitt and C Bryan Anderson (AAA) to Kansas City for SS Raul Mondesi (AA) and SP Garrett Davila (R). Despite having the tools to do so, Valencia just wasn’t getting the job done in Oakland after they claimed him on waivers in the off-season from the Blue Jays. He was hitting just .205 with 9 HR and 37 RBI and there were rumors the Athletics might decline to offer him arbitration this offseason. The A’s were able to get younger here in acquiring Raul Mondesi, who’s already a gold glove caliber shortstop with blazing speed. Some scouts even say could be a .310 hitter when all is said and done. The A’s also got 19-year old Garrett Davila, who projects to be a #2 or #3 starter in 4-5 seasons. He was drafted by the Royals in the 4^th round out of South Point (NC) High School in the 2015 amateur draft. Bassitt had been pitching incredibly well for the A’s, but that’s just the price that has to be paid when acquiring good, young talent. *Trade 3:* Oakland trades DH Billy Butler to the Houston Astros for C/DH Evan Gattis and 1B AJ Reed (AAA). This trade was almost purely a salary dump. The Athletics were able to unload the underperforming Butler’s nearly $15 million commitment for this year and next. In return, they got Evan Gattis who can take Butler’s spot in the lineup. Gattis is due to make $5.2 million next season should the A’s pick up his option, but will owe him only this years remaining $1.7 million should they let him walk. Add in power hitting 23-year old 1B AJ Reed and the A’s most certainly won this trade as well. An anonymous front office executive said that Reed is a cleanup hitter in the making that could bat .270 and hit 30 homeruns. *Trade 4:* Oakland trades MR John Axford, MR Ryan Madson, SP Zach Neal (AAA), 1B Mark Canha (AAA) and C Jose Rivas (R) to the Tigers for LF Christin Stewart (A) and SP Beau Burrows (A). Another big salary dump, the A’s were able to unload over $20 million in future commitments to two aging relief pitchers and in return got a couple prospects with high ceilings. Neal, Canha and Rivas were additional throw-ins that were removed from the A’s plans after all the other high profile moves that were made. Christin Stewart has the makings of a very good role player and left-handed bat off the bench, while 19-year old Beau Burrows has star potential written all over him. Burrows was the 22^nd overall pick in the 2015 draft, and has quickly catapulted himself all the way up to low-A ball where he sports a 4.08 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 22 starts. He could very well be the best prospect acquired this deadline when looked back up in 10-15 seasons. Some additional housekeeping: With the subtractions, the Athletics’ salary commitments for this season dropped to $45.8 million. They are projected to be $65.7 million, leaving plenty of room for a free agent signing or two. With all of the moves, a boatload of roster spots opened up. To fill the roster, the A’s selected SP Felix Doubrount, RP Henderson Alvarez & RP Aaron Kurcz to fill out the bullpen and LF Andrew Lambo and IF Josh Rodriguez to complete their lineup. __________________ Through the Facade - A Yankees Dynasty http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...ml#post3492108 Last edited by Kevdog1020; 08-16-2016 at 06:55 PM.