A Different Kind of Beane Deal; A's-Yanks
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:43 pm
I understand that Billy Beane's MO is to cut costs and stock pile youth for the next move, but this one just might be too beneficial to pass up; hypothetically.
A's deal P-Joe Blanton, 1B-Dan Johnson, and a low-level prospect
NY deals P-Chien-Ming Wang and 3B-Eric Duncan(former top 10 prospect)
For the Yanks, this deal fills three needs actually. First of all, they get an experienced, yet still young, power pitcher to be the workhorse of their in the near future rotation of Hughes, Chamberlain, and Kennedy. Secondly, Johnson, being a natural 1B, gives them a better option than the recently invited to camp Morgan Ensberg; a 3B attempting to make the cross the diamond move to stay in the bigs. Lastly, they do not appear to not want to give Wang a multi-year extension at this time, and are not necessarily close going into their arbitration hearing. By making the deal the Yanks get an extra year of service time out of Blanton, and get value for Wang, without risking him being offended by the arbitration proceedings and walking.
For the A's, this move goes against the core concepts that Billy Beane has made practically gospel in Oakland. Although, just because the A's deal for Wang doesn't necessarily mean that he will be the one pitcher that is able to pull a long-term extension out of the A's. Wang has this coming season before free agency; hello money ball. Essentially what Beane does is acquire a better commodity(Wang>Blanton), and, in doing so, Beane can get a better package come the trade deadline. Speaking of money, attendence in Oakland, let's face it, is less than stellar, but, with Wang, the A's will have a near sellout every 5th day, much in the same way the Dodgers and Mariners have taken advantage of their large surrounding Asian community. In addition, with Duncan, the A's get a potential replacement for Eric Chavez down the road. Duncan, a one-time fast rising, hot prospect in the Yankees system is the prototypical Beane guy, with a history, albeit in minors and short in length, of being a contact hitter, with a OPS, and the potential of having above average power.
A's deal P-Joe Blanton, 1B-Dan Johnson, and a low-level prospect
NY deals P-Chien-Ming Wang and 3B-Eric Duncan(former top 10 prospect)
For the Yanks, this deal fills three needs actually. First of all, they get an experienced, yet still young, power pitcher to be the workhorse of their in the near future rotation of Hughes, Chamberlain, and Kennedy. Secondly, Johnson, being a natural 1B, gives them a better option than the recently invited to camp Morgan Ensberg; a 3B attempting to make the cross the diamond move to stay in the bigs. Lastly, they do not appear to not want to give Wang a multi-year extension at this time, and are not necessarily close going into their arbitration hearing. By making the deal the Yanks get an extra year of service time out of Blanton, and get value for Wang, without risking him being offended by the arbitration proceedings and walking.
For the A's, this move goes against the core concepts that Billy Beane has made practically gospel in Oakland. Although, just because the A's deal for Wang doesn't necessarily mean that he will be the one pitcher that is able to pull a long-term extension out of the A's. Wang has this coming season before free agency; hello money ball. Essentially what Beane does is acquire a better commodity(Wang>Blanton), and, in doing so, Beane can get a better package come the trade deadline. Speaking of money, attendence in Oakland, let's face it, is less than stellar, but, with Wang, the A's will have a near sellout every 5th day, much in the same way the Dodgers and Mariners have taken advantage of their large surrounding Asian community. In addition, with Duncan, the A's get a potential replacement for Eric Chavez down the road. Duncan, a one-time fast rising, hot prospect in the Yankees system is the prototypical Beane guy, with a history, albeit in minors and short in length, of being a contact hitter, with a OPS, and the potential of having above average power.