October 19, 2006
Relaxing Winter
Apart from the manager search, the Oakland Athletics are pretty much set for next season:
The A's have three free agents. Barry Zito is gone, Frank Thomas is probably coming back, and Jay Payton's status will depend on his asking price and what else is available.
"We've only talked briefly about some of our personnel issues," general manager Billy Beane said. "We haven't got really in depth at addressing some our key needs yet."
The key decisions: a starter to replace Zito, an outfielder if Payton isn't brought back, and which players already under the team's control to offer a multiyear contract.
Approximately $44.5 million is committed to nine players: catcher Jason Kendall; outfielder Mark Kotsay; infielders Eric Chavez, Mark Ellis, and Bobby Crosby; and pitchers Rich Harden, Dan Haren, Jay Witasick and Esteban Loaiza.
Last year's payroll was in the mid-$60 million range, but many young players are due significant raises.
Nine are eligible for salary arbitration: outfielders Milton Bradley and Bobby Kielty; infielders Antonio Perez and Marco Scutaro; backup catcher Adam Melhuse; and pitchers Justin Duchscherer, Kiko Calero, Kirk Saarloos and Joe Kennedy.
Of course, if market inefficiencies appear, expect the front office to try to exploit those.
Posted by David Pinto at
08:26 AM
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Management
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How can they be sure Frank Thomas will come back? He performed very well this year, on pretty short money. Why wouldn't he up his asking price to something like $8 million, which the A's would likely not be all that interested in paying?
Thomas isn't going to get 8 million from anybody, and I think he realizes that. I don't think at this stage in Frank's career money is the object. I think he wants to win, and, more importantly, he wants to show Ken Williams that he f-d up. If there was a defecit of DHs in the AL, I could imagine Frank Thomas getting 8 mil, but look at the rosters of every AL team - which one needs a DH that bad, and can afford to pay that much for one?
No way will Thomas get $8 million, I just can't see that happening.
The article implies Jason Kendall would take a pay cut to help the team. Perhaps he can donate $12,999,999 of his salary to Big Frank? Then Jason would be helping the team and earning a salary commensurate with his 'skills'.
re: a replacement for Barry Zito
If the Phillies didn't sign Randy Wolf, I believe the As could find that they could sign Wolf at a reasonable price.
Wolf was a Pepperdine grad and keeps his offseason home in California.
Wolf is very similar to Zito and Glavine, and working in the A's park as opposed to the Phils's park, would probably be a very effective pitcher at home. Wolf is a control pitcher who can spot his fastball, curve and change effectively without overpowering hitters. He works efficiently and professionally. Coming back from tommy john surgery, he was very very effective down the stretch for the phils, going 4-0 and helping them win games and stabilizing an awful rotation mess.
Randy Wolf would be a great replacement for Zito.
Wolf could easily win 15 games with the As hitting behind him.
--art kyriazis, philly
