moocow007 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
I don't know. Eric Duncan? How's his defense?
I just don't see having an ultra-expensive 1B as really a great need. Who else? Don't now, depends on who will be available in the next couple seasons. If he's willing to take $11-12 million then maybe.
I'd much rather spend on someone like Ichiro or another dynamic OF with the money currently alloted to Abreu. Someone like Ichiro IMHO is worth $15 per...Texiera is not.
I like Ichiro as well but in my mind they both are needed. They both fit different needs. Ichiro is not a power hitter, he sprays the ball all over the field. He is fast and steals bases. Great arm. However, he is like 33 now, so 34 when we sign him. He is going to get a big deal and in the later half of that deal he won't be as quick as he is and his arm won't be as great as it is now. I like him, but I don't know if we sign him. Another factor would be a big market team, not Boston or the Yanks, might be interested in him because of the additional money from Japan he would bring, meaning they would entertain the idea of paying him more because they would make it back. So would the Yanks be prepared to spend 16-18 million a year for Ichiro who would be 34 and is playing in the same position as Tabata.
My suggestion is to play it like this. A's seem to want to have a firesale. Deal for Kotsay and either Harden or Haren. Let Abreu go. Plug Kotsay in right and when his contract is up at the end of 2008, Tabata should be ready to come up. Kotsay is more than capable of playing RF for 2 seasons. Look at getting Teixeria here, who will give us a solid glove at 1B, replace the offense Giambi gave us last year and he will hit for a better average. I feel that would make us a better team over adding Ichiro at an overpriced rate, not having a lot of pop in the lineup and blocking Tabata. -Jitpal