Andrew Bailey traded to Red Sox

I really don’t get the meme about the A’s lacking OF options. With the addition of Reddick they now have four guys(five if you think Jermaine Mitchell is ready for a shot) who deserve some playing time in the OF-Reddick, Cowgill, Michael Taylor, and Brandon Allen. None of those guys are likely to be stars, even league average players might be too high for a couple of them, but this is the time to see what you have with these guys. Same with Kila Ka’aihue/Daric Barton at 1B, Chris Carter at DH and Scott Sizemore at 3B. If they prove incapable of holding an MLB job, fine, but at least you’ve given them the chance. Maybe you get two or three starters out of those seven or eight names overall, maybe you get lucky and it’s closer to four or five worthwhile starters.

Did I want to see the A’s get more for Bailey? Absolutely, though I’ve long been a fan of Reddick and hope he blossoms with a full time role. I don’t think Sweeney is a huge loss, he’s not the same player defensively since his knee trouble and I was worried he’d take PA’s away from the younger guys who need a chance. I’m not really sure how another 1B prospect isn’t needed,either. While there are options at the MLB level I’m not sold there is an average regular out of Allen/Barton/Kila but Head is 3 years away at least and by then either someone emerged as a solid option or the job is his for the taking.

I’m glad that the A’s are moving to a full on rebuild, I’m ready for Suzuki to move on and give Josh Donaldson and Anthony Recker a shot at the C spot before Norris is ready, McCarthy/Fuentes/Balfour to move at the deadline and Brett Anderson likely gone next offseason should he prove healthy down the stretch. I’d rather the team be outright awful for two to three years while adding the pieces for the next contending team through trades and the draft than treading water around .500 for another five to seven years.

When they’re already entering their arb years, are TJ survivors who were abused in college, have had recurring forearm and elbow problems the last two seasons (raising fears of a 2nd TJ) and have had microfracture surgery on their plant knee.

I just don’t know that Bailey ever carried the value within the industry that people assumed he did. When healthy, he’s a very effective pitcher (albeit a flyball one) who can miss bats.

That means you’re getting 286/.365/.377 most of the time out of your RF, though. No thanks. Do Not Like. Gotta be a veteran they can pick up somewhere that can best that.

Upside - If Sweeney can do that and play plus defense in RF (not 100% he can do either, personally)… well, that’s not a whole lot different from what the Yankees get from Brett Gardner, is it?

I wouldn’t tell him that.

I think the Red Sox win the trade, sure Bailey’s elbow could probably flair up again at any time.

But what if it doesnt’? AT least not in 2012? I think its a semi-HUGE win for the Red Sox who don’t even need Reddick as anything more than a #3-4 OF.