Angels runnin' away.

[G-Dubb]

they'll pay 95% of his contract and practically give him up for free. I dont want to lose Kotsay, but it looks like he's gone

ESPN.com on 7/2:

Oakland Athletics: Center fielder Mark Kotsay said "things are going in the right direction" when asked about the possibilty of a two-year contract extension, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

"There's no rush and there's not a lot to say," Kotsay told the paper. Kotsay met with GM Billy Beane before Friday's game, and is reportedly looking looking for roughly the same money he's currently earning ($7.025 million this season and a player option for 2006 at $7.05 million).

Kotsay said he's not letting the negotiations become a distraction.

"It's my eighth year in the league, it's not my first rodeo," Kotsay told the paper. "I've been with three different teams, traded, everything."

I think they'll get him. He's not really asking for more so they should take it even though he wants a no-trade clause...

 

[G-Dubb]

Boone just designated for assignment. Should the A's take a risk on him? He's only good when he's juiced though

also, Duke made the All-star team

The A's have too many 2B's as-is. They still need to get rid of Ginter. Boone could be a decent pickup for someone if they can get him cheap.

 

[usctrojan415]

assuming they dotel and durazo are gone next year, the a's will have some money for kotsay. besudes yankees are going to have a tough time trading away sheffield after his remarks. ny was the team most interested in kotsay assuming they could get rid of sheffield.

2005 Salaries

1. Jason Kendall 10,571,429
2. Eric Chavez 8,500,000
3. Mark Kotsay 6,500,000
4. Barry Zito 5,600,000
5. Octavio Dotel 4,750,000
6. Erubiel Durazo 4,700,000
7. Scott Hatteberg 2,450,000
8. Eric Byrnes 2,200,000
9. Ricardo Rincon 1,900,000
10. Chad Bradford 1,400,000
11. Bobby Kielty 875,000
12. Keiichi Yabu 780,000
13. Rich Harden 750,000
14. Keith Ginter 583,333
15. Mark Ellis 400,000
16. Adam Melhuse 385,000
17. Bobby Crosby 350,000
18. Kiko Calero 330,000
19. Justin Duchscherer 329,500
20. Marco Scutaro 323,500
21. Danny Haren 323,500
22. Nick Swisher 316,500
23. Joe Blanton 316,500
24. Huston Street 316,000
Total Team Salary: 55,869,262

 

[G-Dubb]

assuming they dotel and durazo are gone next year, the a's will have some money for kotsay. besudes yankees are going to have a tough time trading away sheffield after his remarks. ny was the team most interested in kotsay assuming they could get rid of sheffield.

2005 Salaries

5. Octavio Dotel 4,750,000
6. Erubiel Durazo 4,700,000
7. Scott Hatteberg 2,450,000
8. Eric Byrnes 2,200,000
9. Ricardo Rincon 1,900,000
12. Keiichi Yabu 780,000
14. Keith Ginter 583,333

Dotel and Durazo will definitely be gone, replaced by Street and Johnson.

Hatteberg will probably be gone, with Johnson and Swisher playing 1B.

Byrnes will be gone, OF will be Kielty/Kotsay/Swisher and Charles Thomas/Matt Watson will be the extra OF'ers.

Rincon will probaby go make a few mil somewhere else, replaced by Ron Flores.

Yabu might stay if he doesn't ask for a lot more than he's making now... But that's not a given. I'm pretty sure they only signed him to a 1 year deal.

Ginter will be gone, they have no room for him between Crosby/Scutaro/Ellis.

They should be able to sign both Zito and Kotsay to an extension with all the rookies they have playing cheap for the next few years...

 

[G-Dubb]

^I can guarantee that won't happen.

The A's should go after a right-handed 30-40 HR hitter... That's really all they need, a legit cleanup hitter. Maybe another starter so they can move Saarloos to the bullpen... They have a few guys that are expendable (Scott Hatteberg, Erubiel Durazo, Kieth Ginter, Ryan Glynn, Eric Byrnes) so I'm sure they'll make a move or two.

 

[G-Dubb]

Yeah I think Sheffield would have to be off the market now... Nobody will want him.

At this point in the season I would say Mike Sweeney... He cannot veto a trade to the A's and the Royals are looking for young players... More players will probably become available over the next few weeks.

 

[G-Dubb]

1B/DH

They don't need to keep both Hatteberg and Johnson in the lineup every day. I would sit Hatteberg and use him as a pinch hitter, with Sweeney DH'ing.

Right now the DH is usually Hatteberg, Byrnes or Ginter.

 

[Sicc_Wit_It]

Fuck a 4-game sweep by Seattle. They better get there shit together before they touch down in Minnesota for 4. We then have 3 with Oakland and 7 with the Yanks to finish up July. Not to mention the Jays are still above .500. These next 14 games could determine if the Angels put the nail in the coffin so to say, or if Texas and Oakland get back into it. Either way should be hella fun.