Throwing stuff against the wall: What would it cost the A's to trade for Florida's Josh Johnson?
by grover on Nov 21, 2025 4:31 PM EST
103 comments
A's GM Billy Beane made an interesting comment the other day.
We're going to look at young players to fill spots, first and foremost," Beane said. "If those players we'd like to acquire aren't obtainable, we'll consider bringing in guys who can hold the positions down.
Link.
So the A's aren't interested in chasing down free agents but they are going to be talking to teams about making trades. I don't care how you feel about Oakland's current crop of young pitching (maybe you think they're the greatest thing since Hudson/Mulder/Zito... maybe you think all but Anderson are way over-rated) at the very least the responsible thing to do if you were the GM of a major league baseball team would be to kick the tires a bit and see what the sticker price is for Johnson.
I happen to think that the back end of the A's rotation is in flux and the idea of slotting Johnson into the #1 role, bumping Braden and Anderson down a notch, would be a good thing. So I'd like to hear what people think would be a fair and equitable trade between the A's and the Marlins. I especially want to hear from those who aren't fans of either team, you're less likely to be overly biased one way of the other!
The parameters of the deal are pretty simple:
1) The A's aren't giving up Anderson to acquire Johnson... everyone else is open for discussion. I realize the A's wouldn't be the only team interested in Johnson so I'm expecting the price to be steep.
2) The A's are willing to shoulder the full financial burden but they aren't asking for a pre-deal window to sign Johnson to an extension. At this point we're talking about 2 years of team control. (I figure both sides will want to get to know each other a bit before committing long term.)
Everything and anything else is open to debate. Think this needs to be a 3-way deal? Go for it. Florida doesn't have any albatross-like contracts they need to dispose of so I'm guessing any trade is going to be all about the talent.
I'm curious to see what people think.
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The A's are not trading for JJ.
Done.
Brett Anderson is the Truth. Brett Anderson is divine presence. Brett Anderson is eternal life. Brett Anderson is within you. Brett Anderson is here. Brett Anderson is Now.
by Frederick0220 on Nov 21, 2025 4:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Did you expect them to trade for Holliday last year?
If your answer is “Yes” than… damn you’re good!
Otherwise, I don’t see any harm in asking the question.
Thanks for your input., enjoy the rest of your weekend.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 21, 2025 4:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
JJ is way more valuable than Holliday was at the time
by daveh33 on Nov 21, 2025 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
Which only means the A’s would have to pay more to land Johnson than they paid to acquire Holliday. That’s an entirely different discussion than saying it won’t happen.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 21, 2025 4:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Much more...
would Oakland be willing to give up it’s farm for anyone?
by joegonzo on Nov 21, 2025 5:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I said everyone other than Anderson is open for discussion
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 22, 2025 12:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Green, Wallace, Weeks
and an arm like Capra might be fair… doubt FLA would do it though. Oakland lacks the large nugget capable of netting a JJ
by daveh33 on Nov 21, 2025 4:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ynoa
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 21, 2025 4:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If Ynoa is the centerpiece to a deal to acquiring a very good pitcher who actually exists
Beane better pull the trigger.
by thejd44 on Dec 10, 2025 3:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And Green can't be traded until August of next year
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 21, 2025 4:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
In January or February he could be the PTBNL
And wait until August to actually switch teams
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Nov 21, 2025 4:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
True, but teams don't usually like for another team to develop their guy for 9 months
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 21, 2025 5:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
well then I don't see this happening at all
without a Grant Green type
by daveh33 on Nov 21, 2025 5:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Grant Green...
would probably be Florida’s top target if he was allowed to be traded but I can still see Florida finding a good enough package from Oakland’s stock of good young players.
by joegonzo on Nov 21, 2025 5:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
they really don't need a Carter/Wallace type though
Weeks and Capra would likely be their top targets then
by daveh33 on Nov 21, 2025 5:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
By Grant Green type... you mean a SS specifically?
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 22, 2025 12:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i mean a guy with his sort of upside
at a premium position… Wallace and Carter are 1B/DH types
by daveh33 on Nov 22, 2025 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Then you need to help me out here
I don’t know what you see as Green’s upside. If you’re talking good defensive MI with above average offense, why not Jemile Weeks? If you’ve got Green on some kind of pedestal than you need to tell me who else sits at his level.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 22, 2025 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
well he's certainly a better prospect than Weeks
I’m talking a guy in the 40-80 range… not quite elite but close to blue-chip. A’s have no one else in that range besides Wallace/Carter
by daveh33 on Nov 22, 2025 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
40-80 what?
#40-80 prospect? I think you may be over-rating him in that case. It’s possible somebody will put him in their top 100, but I’d be a little surprised.
TheSouthWing.com - A Magazine of essays, prose and poems
by OldProspects on Nov 22, 2025 8:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
wasn't it Callis who just said he's the A's #1 spect?
it was someone at BA with some clout… i think it was in one of the recent ask BA’s or something.
he is for sure a top 100 prospect.
by daveh33 on Nov 22, 2025 10:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, It was Callis
If you believe in his defense at SS, he is a very good prospect.
by jar75 on Nov 22, 2025 10:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Decent chance Weeks is in the 40-80 range, I would think...
by alskor on Nov 22, 2025 9:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I had him at #83 to 87 or so....
Deolis Guerra = Daniel Cabrera ?
I tend to think so
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Nov 23, 2025 12:02 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
We have a bit of a disconnect here
I don’t think I’d rate Green as a Top 50 prospect going into next season, largely because I haven’t kept close enough track of the other 29 farm systems to accurately rate their players.
You almost make it sound like you’re more interested in trading for the status symbol of a Top 50 prospect than getting a player who could actually help the Marlins.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 23, 2025 11:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
i don't rate him top 50 either
… i have him at #79…. but some guys like Callis might have him top 50.
Weeks is not that good. Green could be Hanley’s successor. i don’t know of any team that doesn’t want/need a top SS prospect
by daveh33 on Nov 23, 2025 10:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hanley's contract runs through 2014
I’m not seeing a need for a successor at this time.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 23, 2025 11:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
but his contract is going to be too large
for florida by then
by matthewmafa on Nov 24, 2025 12:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Green
I like his bat more than Jemile’s (although I do like Jemile), and SS is harder to fill than 2B. Even if you believe that Green doesn’t have the range for SS, 3B is on par with 2B.
by jar75 on Nov 22, 2025 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
hyptohetically
I would imagine that it would be an extremely high cost, moreso than perhaps some of the other recent arms, due to cost control and overall age, plus his performance. I mean, this is a case where, if they ask for Chris Carter as a part of a package … it would seem fair to me, and these days, I tend to think most elite prospects are protected.
I mean, I could see something like Cahill and either Carter/Wallace and a third piece. Maybe I’m going too high, but I think the Marlins would be able to get a Dan Haren type package in return.
by toonsterwu on Nov 21, 2025 4:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It would take...
more than a Haren type package. Johnson is younger and has better stuff than Haren does.
by joegonzo on Nov 21, 2025 5:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Contract, contract, contract, contract, contract
You are not trading for players. You are trading for contracts. Good players with bad contracts are worth less than average players with good contracts.
Haren had an incredibly friendly contract with 3 years left. Johnson’s in arbitration with 2 years left.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Nov 21, 2025 5:16 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Name a good player with a bad contract
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Nov 21, 2025 5:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That's a good example.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Nov 21, 2025 6:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Magglio Ordonez leaps to mind
Should be above average next season if he gets a full season’s playing time, yet he’s paid like a superstar— and if you actually play him to try to at least recoup that “above-average value,” you’ll trigger another overpaid option year!
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Nov 21, 2025 7:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This is a good example too.
It depends what you mean by “good player”. If you mean a 3 WAR player, then I’d think for the contract to be bad he’d have to get at least $18M/year. There really aren’t any of those that I can think of.
If you mean a 2.2 WAR player, then guys like Barry Zito and Michael Young would be overpaid. Ordonez seems like a 2.2 WAR guy.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Nov 21, 2025 10:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Torii Hunter
turned 34 last year, and is owed $18m in each of the next 3 years by the Angels.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Nov 21, 2025 10:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Ya, even if he is a 3 WAR player then he'd be overpaid, and he's not likely
to be a 4 WAR player.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Nov 21, 2025 10:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It was clearly an effort to put the Angels "over the top"
in the short run, with the out years just the cost of getting Hunter during the team’s WS-challenger period. I can’t believe anyone in the Angels’ organization thinks that Hunter will be worth $18m when he’s 37 and 38 years old.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Nov 21, 2025 10:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well
The GMJ contract might prove evidence to the contrary
by jibs on Nov 21, 2025 11:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
While I do agree that's probably a bad contract
You can’t look at it and ignore the first couple years.
In other words, if in the first 2 years you’re getting $10 million in production more than what you’re paying, but in the last 2 years you’re getting $6 million less, that’s still a good contract for the team.
by thejd44 on Dec 10, 2025 3:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
if it's going to take more than a Haren package...
Josh Johnson will never be traded.
Btw, Dan Haren was 26 when he was traded, coming off a better season than Josh Johnson has ever had, and had proven himself very durable.
by AgitationStation on Nov 21, 2025 5:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think Johnson will get traded either
I think they’ll play out next year and see where their team stands. The team’s close enough to take that chance with, and I think they’ll take that chance.
by toonsterwu on Nov 21, 2025 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
one other side point
I’d make the case that Josh Johnson’s 2009 was better than Haren’s 2007. That said, Haren has the durability going for him. Biggest thing is what Paul noted above - Haren had an extra year, so there’s a chance this deal may be closer to Cliff Lee/Rich Harden than it is towards a Haren trade. That said, other trades should only be used as measuring sticks and not some exact indicator, as each trade exists in their own environment.
by toonsterwu on Nov 21, 2025 6:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If the Marlins were smart/sneaky...
They would sign him to the extension he wants and then deal him (assuming the reports that he was looking for 4/40 were accurate). The multi-year extension trade demand rule is gone right?
by AgitationStation on Nov 21, 2025 6:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes
Kind of undermines your credibility if you do that, but I suppose the Marlins have zero credibility to begin with, so…
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Nov 21, 2025 7:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Is it? When did they get rid of the rule?
I know Javy Vazquez used it to force the trade to the White Sox, so it has to have been since then.
by thejd44 on Dec 10, 2025 3:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with your Cliff Lee example
And I’d agree with your case that Johnson’s 2009 was better than Haren’s 2007. But it wasn’t so much better that it overcomes the value Haren’s contract provided.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 22, 2025 12:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What?!
I guess some may like Johnson’s stuff over Haren, but what the heck matteres most is that Haren is better than Johnson and was at the time of the trade. That would also lead me to believe that Haren has better stuff than Johnson (CAUSE HE’S BETTER).
by Berserk on Nov 22, 2025 9:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
leaving everything else aside on trade value and what not
I’m a huge fan of Dan Haren, but I think a fair case can be made that Josh Johnson is coming off a better season than Dan Haren’s 2007. Johnson had a better K rate, 2007 would have a slight edge on the walks part. FIP and xFIP wise, Johnson’s 2009 was at 3.06/3.42, whereas Haren’s 2007 was at 3.70/3.99 War wise, Haren was 4.9 in 2007, whereas Johnson is at 5.5.
As for stuff … we’re talking about a guy in Josh Johnson who’s average fb was at 95.1 mph. Velocity doesn’t mean that much, but when you combine it with Johnson’s ability to generate ground balls and K’s, along with his control, the idea that 2009 Johnson is somehow a decent amount behind 2007 Haren, as you seem to suggest, is something I don’t buy. At the very least, it’s a draw, but as noted, I think a case can be made that Johnson right now is better than Haren was in 2007, and I am a huge Haren fan.
That said, valid points have been made about Haren’s trade value advantage, ranging from track record and his extra year of control. I think the case on “ability” is closer than you seem to be suggesting.
by toonsterwu on Nov 23, 2025 11:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wallace, Cahill and Leon?
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Nov 21, 2025 4:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It really should take a Haren-like haul shouldn't it?
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Nov 21, 2025 5:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Do they even matchup in prospect needs?
marlins have dominguez, stanton, and morrison so they might no exactly want or need a carter, wallace type. It likely would have to be built around pitching for a competitive offer. Basically A’s would trading away depth and prospect value they built up in their last 2 yrs of recent deals. Unless they could entice marlins on cahill, but his value has dropped since. I dont see an obvious match between both teams
by Asfan4ever723 on Nov 21, 2025 4:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Obvious is no fun anyways!
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 21, 2025 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I attempted to draw an analogy to the Lee trade
and came up with:
Knapp/Ynoa
Carrasco/Cahill or Mazzaro
Marson/Donaldson
Donald/Pennington
for
Lee/Johnson
Francisco/Ross
I can’t see any reason why anyone would bother with the Pennington for Ross part of the deal, since that would hurt both teams, so really we’re looking at a package of Ynoa, Cahill or Mazzaro, and Donaldson (I actually think that’s better than the Lee package overall, but that trade was widely panned as getting too little back for Cleveland, so “better” is likely required) for Johnson.
I would not do that for Oakland without assurance that Johnson will play more than 2 years in an A’s uniform, however. Some kind of sign-and-trade would be required before I’d be interested in any way.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Nov 21, 2025 5:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think motivation
would likely lead to the Marlins not accepting that sort of package. Just my guess. Whereas Cleveland was clearly in a rebuild mode at the point Cliff Lee was dealt (and getting Josh for a whole season is probably a plus in that column to expect a higher return than what the Indians got for Lee), the Marlins could legitimately ponder themselves as a potential playoff candidate for 2010 with the right moves. Whereas adding high upside in Knapp could make sense for the Marlins, along with taking the “safer” Carrasco, I’m hard pressed to see a Cahill (or Daaron’s favorite, Mazzaro) and Ynoa really make sense for the Fish, as it really diminishes their chances of competing in 2010.
by toonsterwu on Nov 21, 2025 6:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree, I don't see how this is sensible for the respective teams given their positions in the success cycle
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Nov 21, 2025 7:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
no Paul, I disagree with your analaogy
Donald > Pennington
Knapp > Ynoa (despite Ynoa having the higher ceiling)
although Cahill is probably > than Carrasco
so maybe that evens things out a bit,,,
but, I say a more fair trade for Josh Johnson would be
Trevor Cahill
Brett Wallace or Chris Carter
Clayton Mortenson
Arnold Leon
Deolis Guerra = Daniel Cabrera ?
I tend to think so
by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Nov 21, 2025 7:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Mortensen is kind of pants if you ask me
Not high on him at all.
The problem with that second trade is that it doesn’t really make sense for the A’s to make it. They desperately need the power bats that Carter and Wallace promise to bring. The only way trading for Johnson makes much sense for Oakland at this point is if they can do it for low minors guys and what amounts to spare parts. And I can’t figure out why Florida would deal Josh Johnson for spare parts.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Nov 21, 2025 7:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
To be fair
Cleveland undersold on Lee and V Mart. Who trades away too elite players with 1 1/2 years of great contracts remaining without getting elite prospects in return?
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift
by King Billy Royal on Nov 22, 2025 11:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd argue that
the trading market has changed in recent years and that they got enough value. Sure, maybe they would be in the right to determine an elite prospect, but you have to have a team willing to fork that over. More and more, elite prospects simply aren’t moved as much anymore.
by toonsterwu on Nov 22, 2025 6:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Carrasco? Ugh... me no likey him, won't give you Cahill comp
You can compare him to Mazzaro.
I’ll counter with:
Ynoa
Mazzaro
Cardenas
Donaldson
for
Johnson
And no sign-and-trade for you… although we’ll assume that the A’s get 5 minutes to ask Johnson’s agent if he’d be open to the idea before the deal goes down.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 22, 2025 12:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Not even remotely close
The A’s have to trade from their top shelf to get a guy like Johnson. Ynoa doesn’t count.
by aap212 on Nov 22, 2025 1:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think many would agree with your assessment on Ynoa
Regardless, Ynoa ranks as the 5th best tradeable prospect the A’s have in their system (according to Scout.com) so it’s not like I’m serving from the bottom of the barrel.
But feel free to counter my counter-offer.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 22, 2025 1:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I didn't say bottom of the barrel
But Johnson is one of the best young pitchers in baseball, and if you won’t even talk about one of your top four prospects, you’re wasting time. The only guy in that trade with real star upside is Ynoa, and he’s a teenaged pitcher who hasn’t thrown a professional inning on American soil.
by aap212 on Nov 22, 2025 4:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I said Brett Anderson was the only player not available for discussion
How that translates into not discussing the A’s top prospects or anyone else in the entire organization is beyond me. I was replying to a very specific list of players presented in a manner that suggests a certain price tag on Johnson. If you feel the price should be higher then feel free to say so. The more participation the better on a topic like this.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 22, 2025 4:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, if I'm Billy Beane, certainly I reject that deal...
It makes my team worse. Might make the Marlins worse, too, but definitely makes the A’s worse.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Nov 22, 2025 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How does it make the A's worse?
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 22, 2025 1:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It means that once the inevitable injuries hit, not only do they have Brett Wallace playing third
and being bad at it, they also have Gregorio Petit starting at middle infield and Dana Eveland starting games.
And we already know you don’t want that.
Then two years later, Johnson walks. Likely too soon for the A’s hitting prospects to develop into a contending-type roster. So the A’s probably end up with a worse talent base and nothing to show for it.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Nov 22, 2025 8:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, the only reason to do this is if you mean to re-sign Josh Johnson
Considering he’s one of the best pitchers in the game, keeping him for 7 years (at whatever cost) is more than worth the price in prospects (and cash)
TheSouthWing.com - A Magazine of essays, prose and poems
by OldProspects on Nov 22, 2025 8:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I already said it's a different calculation if he inks an extension as part of the deal
Not 7 years, though. For a guy with his injury history, that’s ridiculous (unless there are like 3 team option years in those 7 or something).
But I’m not trading for a guy on spec that he MIGHT sign an extension. What if he just really hates Oakland?
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Nov 23, 2025 1:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That makes zero sense
Unless you’re assuming that Johnson is the guy getting hurt… but then why would you want to sign him to an extension if he’s so fragile? You’re worried about Wallace playing 3B but seem to be pencilling in Cardenas to be Plan B at SS should Pennington go down.
Or are you just ignoring my counter-proposal?
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 22, 2025 11:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The point of that exercise was not to foretell the future
It was a (rather oblique, admittedly) way of saying that it strips the A’s of their depth, when the frontline players are in mediocre health to begin with.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Nov 23, 2025 1:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The A's have frontline players?
As in… plural?
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 23, 2025 11:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I count Brett Anderson and......no one else.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Nov 23, 2025 8:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Fair trade...
Cahill
Weeks
Wallace
ptbnl
for
Johnson
He is going to command a very big package. They will need to have at least one MLB ready pitcher and two top 5 prospects in their package for the Marlins to make the trade. You could possibly replace Weeks with Cardenas and another piece or Carter, but Florida will probably want Weeks the most. Wallace would have to be in the deal if I am Florida. He could play third for a few years and move to the outfield once Matt Dominguez is ready.
by joegonzo on Nov 21, 2025 5:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Almost...
Maybin and Stanton are locks Wallace is better than any other option they have.
by joegonzo on Nov 21, 2025 5:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
If the ptbnl is someone in the Leon range, it sounds reasonable
I wouldn’t do it because the A’s are in rebuilding mode, but it’s a good offer.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Nov 21, 2025 5:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Depends on the top 5 prospects
Scout.com released their Top 50 list for the A’s (hey, I’d use Sickles’ list but he hasn’t done the A’s yet!) and they list the A’s Top 7 as:
Wallace
Carter
Green
Cardenas
Weeks
Stassi
Ynoa
I go Top 7 because Grren and Stassi can’t be traded until August 2010, so they aren’t really eligible for this discussion. You seem to think acquiring Johnson would take a package larger than the one that sent Haren to Arizona. I think the Cliff Lee trade is more apt in this discussion.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 22, 2025 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
cliff lee is older, more expensive, and his team knows they aren't competing next year
by daveh33 on Nov 22, 2025 2:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Cliff Lee also out-pitched Johnson last year
And relatively speaking, Lee might cost a little more but his is a fixed cost and barring injury is going to be a Hell of a bargain for the Phillies.
Haren’s durability, production and 3 years of fixed cost in 2007 places his trade as a step above Johnson’s value. Johnson does not have the track record Haren did and his cost offers much more fluctuation due to the arbitration process.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 22, 2025 2:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think an argument can be made that
Haren, if he’s higher, isn’t by that much, as the economic changes could potentially lead to a downturn. There haven’t been any signs of that, but it’s not inconceivable that the economic downturn may balance that out a bit.
That said, each trade exists in it’s own environment. I can’t think of another arm that might be available in a trade this offseason that would cost more than Josh Johnson (including Roy).
by toonsterwu on Nov 22, 2025 6:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Tossing my 2 cents
Cahill, Weeks, Figueroa, Desme, Demel
by Bud Light on Nov 21, 2025 5:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Done
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 22, 2025 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
lets try
Cunningham
Donaldson
Cardenas
Mortensen
Gio Gonzalez- from FLA, maybe sending him home will help his struggles.
Hrod
Cahill
Desme
by Asfan4ever723 on Nov 21, 2025 5:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'd think at least one of Carter or Wallace and one of Weeks or Cardenas would have to be in there.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Nov 21, 2025 5:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
For a player of Johnson's caliber...
they need someone close to the major leagues with a “great” chance at stardom. I think the marlins would be looking more at quality than quantity. My favorite scenario would be Wallace, Cahill, and Cardenas. Wallace is as close as they come to “knowing” someone will hit in the majors. Cahill still has great value, even though he posted a mediocre first year at best. And Cardenas is going to be a good player, he’s close to the majors, fills a need, and the A’s still have Weeks waiting in the wings.
by lions1 on Nov 21, 2025 7:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe the A's could throw in the Coliseum too
I mean, they won’t be needing it after this trade— there won’t be any team left to put on the field.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
by PaulThomas on Nov 21, 2025 8:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How 'bout they trade the entire AAA and AA affiliates, including the cities of Sacramento and Midland...?
"Life is a horizontal fall" -Jean Cocteau
by King Richard on Nov 21, 2025 8:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wasn't that roughly Seattle's asking price for King Felix?
You’re name has 2k9 in it — what are you some 8 year-old who makes Pillsbury Doughboy cookies and jerks off to that bullshit video game with Tim Lincecum on the cover--
Frederick0220
by Mets2k9 on Nov 21, 2025 9:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And they still probably wouldn't do it
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Nov 21, 2025 10:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That's a larger and probably more valuable package than the A's got from AZ for Haren
And John Johnson is not going to get the Marlins a package that good.
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 22, 2025 12:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
yeah
I dont think JOHN johnson would get that either
josh johnson might get more though
by Fishfan79 on Dec 4, 2025 11:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Wow
People used to always complain about mine and Dewey’s posts but at least they were related to prospects. It seems this site is morphing into Athletics nation. ;)
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift
by King Billy Royal on Nov 22, 2025 11:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'd have taken this over to FishStripes but I don't have an account there
And by the time a new account was approved I’d be on my way to Mexico, where I have no intention of spending my time on a computer.
Besides, most of these posts mention prospects. ;-)
The monster at the end of this blog.
by grover on Nov 22, 2025 12:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
"The A's need to trade for pitching"
that’s where this topic should have ended
by Daniel Berlyn on Nov 22, 2025 3:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Remember when Haren was traded
Everyone (including most on this site) said the A’s didn’t get impact talent outside of CarGon.
by Bud Light on Nov 22, 2025 6:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Really? I think almost everyone thought the A's got lotsa talent.
It's not the results, it's how you look going about those results -- Tim McCarver
by WaddellCanseco on Nov 23, 2025 8:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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