Oakland Goes Hunting

June 15, 2009 · Paul Raymond · Jump to comments

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With the Oakland Athletics now realizing third baseman Eric Chavez’s season, and perhaps career, are over have hit the trade market. They’re in need for a new starter at the position and have begun to line up a list of targets. That list is headlined by Cleveland Indians Mark DeRosa.

DeRosa has been a very popular name so far in trade talks, not just with the A’s but around baseball. Because of that the Indians have had a fairly high price tag on the 34-year old. Can’t blame them either he’s a versatile player who can play multiple positions and a pretty damn good hitter to boot. .277 avg, 42 runs, 11 homers and 44 rbis after 53 games this season. Not bad at all.

The only knock is that he’s a free agent after this season and because of that some teams may balk at the asking price. Susan Slusser at the San Francisco Chronicle mentions that price as the reason why talks between the Indians and Athletics haven’t progressed. She reports that the A’s have called the Indians but weren’t happy with their demands.

No surprise there, general manager Billy Beane likes to horde his talent, no matter how untalented they might be. Look at it this way who was the last talented positional player the A’s have brought up. Beane used to be a genius at finding these guys but lately the well has run dry.

Yes, the organization currently ranks third by Baseball America, but when was the last time that system actually produced something? Hmmm, yea thought so.

So if the A’s won’t pull the trigger for DeRosa, what other options are there? Not much. They may be stuck with Hannahan for the rest of the season then have to hit free agency. Possibilities then include Chone Figgins, DeRosa again, and Adrian Beltre. Beltre would most likely be out of their price range.

If there’s one bright spot out of all of this, its former A’s player Mark Kotsay. He’s had two back surgeries and still come back to play center field in the majors, so there is hope for Eric Chavez after all. Thanks to MLB Trade Rumors for that tidbit.

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