January 15, 2009
Cross Country Trade
Dave Sheinin reports that a deal between the Athletics and Nationals is close. Nick Johnson would be going to the A's:
It is unclear what players the A's would be willing to give up for Johnson, but the Nationals have shown previous interest in 23-year-old first baseman Daric Barton, and a deal centering upon Johnson and Barton would make sense for both sides.
The Nationals, who made a failed run at free agent Mark Teixeira this winter, are searching for a young first baseman with upside, and Barton, a former A's top prospect who is under club control until 2013, fits the bill. He hit .226/.327/.348 (batting average/on-base/slugging) with nine homers and 47 RBI in 523 plate appearances last year, but was a .299/.410/.456 hitter as a minor-leaguer.
While I love Nick Johnson, he takes forever to heal after an injury. Maybe Oakland can invent an airbag uniform that inflates whenever there's a chance of a collision. :-) That said, a four man lineup of Johnson, Cust, Holliday and Giambi should generate a bit of offense for Oakland.
Posted by David Pinto at
12:43 PM
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Wow, Dusty would have a cow with a line up like that. Imagine all the clogged basepaths!
And where would Cust, Giambi and Johnson play? That trade does not really make much sense if Johnson or Cust are supposed to play outfield.
That lineup would mean Cust plays RF, Johnson at 1B, Giambi DH. You take a hit defensively with Cust in the field, but the A's really need some offense in the lineup.
Alternatively, Holliday and Cust flip-flop, if the A's decide that's better.
BTW, I don't know what "Sponors" are, but I guess it's a good thing that Baseball Musings has them :
