Athletics re-sign Bartolo Colon

The Athletics have re-signed pitcher Bartolo Colon to a one year deal worth $3 million with an extra $2+ million in incentives.

Colon posted a 3.43 ERA in 24 starts with Oakland in 2012 before being suspended for 50 games following a positive PED drug test. He still must serve five games of the suspension in 2013.

Analysis: I don't mind this move. It is a small overpay for a guy coming off a drug suspension and on the older side. However Oakland is looking for rotation depth and Colon is the right guy I suppose. Let's just hope he doesn't use any PED's again.

Braden, Devine elect free agency

The Athletics have announced that pitchers Dallas Braden and Joey Devine have elected free agency after refusing their outright assignments to the minor leagues.

Braden missed the entire 2012 season following Tommy John surgery. The 29 year old southpaw had a great season in 2010, posting a 3.50 ERA in 30 starts.

Devine missed the entire 2012 season following Tommy John surgery. He has pitched out of the bullpen during his entire career, and had a great season in 2008, posting a 0.59 ERA in 42 appearances.

Analysis: Braden will be a good reclamation project, because we all know how good he can be when healthy. He is also a left handed pitcher, so that up's his value as well. Devine is also a decent reclamation project, but I honestly see him as a setup man at best.

Athletics sign Mike Ekstrom

The Athletics have signed pitcher Mike Ekstrom to a contract that includes an invite to Spring Training.

Ekstrom threw 15 2/3 innings out of the Rockies' bullpen in 2012, and posted an impressive 9:2 strikeout to walk ratio.

Analysis: Bullpen depth at its finest. I don't know if Ekstrom will make an impact but he does have good strikeout numbers.

Athletics exercise Balfour's option, decline Drew's

The Athletics have announced that pitcher Grant Balfour's $4.5 million club option for 2013 has been exercised, and shortstop Stephen Drew's 2013 club option worth $10 million has been declined.

Balfour had a great season with Oakland, posting a 2.53 ERA in 74.2 innings while racking up 24 saves.  He shared the closer's duties with rookie Ryan Cook for most of the season.

Drew will earn a $1.35 million buyout. He came over to Oakland in an August trade and hit .223 in 327 plate appearances on the season. He served as the club's everyday shortstop down the stretch.

Analysis: Balfour had a great season and I honestly thought that Oakland was going to ship him out at the deadline. However, since they remained in contention they held onto him and he played very well down the stretch. Exercising his 2013 option is a no-brainer because even if he fails in the closer role next season, Ryan Cook can slide in to take his spot while Balfour moves to the setup man role, where he has had quite a bit of success. As for Drew, we had to expect them to decline his option. Oakland is obviously a small market team and paying $10 million to a struggling hitter coming off a big ankle injury wouldn't make sense. However, I do believe that Oakland will make a strong push to resign him because they recently traded away Cliff Pennington, who was their only other decent infielder on the roster. I say that Drew stays, signing a contract someone along the lines of 2 years, $15 million.

Diamondbacks acquire Bell in three-team trade

The Diamondbacks have acquired closer Heath Bell from the Marlins in a three way trade that will also send Cliff Pennington and cash considerations to Arizona. Miami will receive infielder Yordy Cabrera from Oakland, and the Athletics will get outfielder Chris Young and $500k from the Diamondbacks.
The Marlins are responsible for $8 million of the remaining $21 million owed to Bell over the next two years. Bell had a horrific season with the Marlins in 2012, and got into several confrontations with manager Ozzie Guillen about his struggles. He posted a 5.09 ERA in 73 appearances. The Marlins signed Bell last off-season as part of their spending spree. His contract includes a vesting option for the 2015 season that will earn him $9 million if he finishes 55 games in 2014, or 100 games finished in 2013-2014 combined.

Pennington has been a member of Oakland ever since his career started in 2005 when he was drafted in the first round (21st overall) in the 2005 draft. He was Oakland's everyday shortstop until they acquired Stephen Drew, therefore forcing him to move to second base. He hit .215 in 462 plate appearances in 2012.

Young will earn $8.5 million in 2013, and has a 2014 club option worth $11 million with a $1.5 million buyout. He hit .231 with 14 homers in 2012, and only started 101 games that season, partly due to shoulder injury that he suffered in April.

Cabrera hit .232 in 60 games at Single-A in 2012, and is a former second round pick.

Analysis: Wow this is a lot to take in here. First off, I like this trade from every side's standpoint. The Marlins are not only getting rid of Bell and the majority of his contract, but they get Cabrera, who isn't a great prospect but does have some upside. It also will allow Steve Cishek to take the everyday closer's role, whom I am a big fan of. As for the Diamondbacks, their bullpen is pretty solid already but I guess they decided that buying low on Bell would be the right thing to do. Hopefully Bell turns around his career, because if he doesn't than Arizona will be stuck with him for two more years and it may get ugly. Cliff Pennington will also be going to the Diamondbacks, and he is a guy that is pretty much a defensive specialist. Arizona has been looking for a shortstop ever since Stephen Drew was traded a few months ago, and I suppose Pennington can serve as a stop-gap like replacement for now. Now, I like what Billy Beane is doing here. He is getting Young, whose value is extremely low right now. He really doesn't fit the typical "Billy Beane player" mould due to his strikeouts, but he is being reunited with manager Bob Melvin, and hopefully that helps him play better.

Accardo elects free agency

The Athletics have announced that relief pitcher Jeremy Accardo has cleared waivers and will refuse his outright assignment to the minor leagues, therefore becoming a free agent.

Accardo posted a 4.82 ERA in 37 1/3 innings with Cleveland and Oakland in 2012.

Analysis: I've always thought of Accardo as a decent relief pitcher, simply because he had some success when he was with Toronto a few years ago. He is capable of being a good setup man, but I guess injuries have just held him back. I'm sure he'll sign a minor league deal with someone because he is a good reclamation project.

Anderson out for rest of season

The Athletics have announced that pitcher Brett Anderson will miss the remainder of the season following an MRI that showed a strained right oblique. Anderson injured himself during Wednesday's game.

"I was throwing the ball well and feeling good," Anderson said. "To have a fluke deal, you don't suspect it at all and the next thing you know you're out again, it's kind of disheartening from that aspect. But from the team aspect these guys have been picking each other up through the course of the season. I don't expect anything less now."

Anderson enjoyed nice success in his brief stint with Oakland this year, posting a 2.57 ERA in six starts. He filled a big void once the A's lost Brandon McCarthy to a freak injury and Bartolo Colon due to a PED suspension.

Analysis: This guy just can't catch a break. It seems like Anderson is always on the disabled list, and its a shame because he is a pretty good pitcher. He is just very injury-prone, and the Athletics have to keep note of that as he moves forward in his career. Now Oakland will have to rely on journeyman Travis Blackley to take his spot, and despite his success so far, he doesn't have any post-season experience, which could backfire on Oakland. Yet again, Anderson didn't have any post-season experience.

Non-tender candidate: Dallas Braden

Dallas Braden has had a rough couple of years recently due to several injuries. The Athletics thought very highly of him once he proved that he could pitch at the MLB level, but we really haven't seen him fulfill his full potential ever since he got called up to the big leagues in 2007. As you can see, due to Oakland's current record, the Athletics don't need Braden in their rotation in 2012. Their current rotation is young, and they have a lot of depth.

Now, Braden is a nice pitcher to have on your staff, when healthy. So far, it looks like he's capable of being a #3 starter at best. In 2010, he threw a perfect game, and many thought that he would finally step up and become the team's ace. I've never been a big fan of Braden, simply because the man is not durable.

I know I keep re-iterating the same facts, but the fact is that Braden will likely get non-tendered this winter. The Athletics avoided arbitration with him in the 2011 off-season, and they gave him $3.5 million for not throwing a single MLB pitch in 2012. Now that he is getting another Tommy John surgery, that will virtually wipe him out for the 2013 season as well. GM Billy Beane should look toward the future and let his young pitchers, such as Brad Peacock, play at the MLB level.

Inge out for season following shoulder surgery

The Athletics announced that third baseman Brandon Inge will be forced to miss the rest of the season following a shoulder surgery that he will undergo in the coming days. Apparently Inge will see the doctor in a few days, and will be available to pinch hit off of the bench although he has a dislocated shoulder. Inge hopes to return to Oakland next season.

Unless Inge gets a few more at-bats, he will end the season with a .218 batting average with 12 homers and 54 RBI in 83 games. He was cut by Detroit in April and Oakland picked him up after their third baseman, Scott Sizemore, was forced to miss the entire season.

Analysis: Tough break for Inge and the Athletics. Don't let the numbers fool you, Inge has been very good with the Athletics this year, providing many clutch hits and a spark off of the bench. He is also a very versatile player, so Oakland will definitely miss him. Hopefully he recovers nicely and possibly re-signs with Oakland in the off-season. He seems comfortable there and I'm sure that they would want him back. He is tough as nails and a great teammate to have.

Godfrey outrighted to Triple-A

The Athletics announced that relief pitcher Graham Godfrey has cleared waivers and will be outrighted to Triple-A. Oakland designated him for assignment last week.

Godfrey has spent most of the 2012 season in Triple-A, where he has posted a 3.29 ERA in 104.0 innings pitched.

Analysis: Godfrey is a decent pitcher but I'm not surprised that he cleared waivers. He has never been able to translate his MiLB stats into the MLB. Moving on.

Cubs, Athletics, swap Recker and Lalli

The Cubs and Athletics have agreed on the trade that will send Anthony Recker to Chicago and Blake Lalli to Oakland. Oakland designated Recker for assignment one week ago. Chicago designated Lalli for assignment last week and announced that he would be outrighted to Triple-A this morning.

Recker appeared in 13 games for the Athletics this year, but has spent the majority of the year in Triple-A where he hit .265 in 229 plate appearances.

Lalli has hit .257 in 319 Triple-A appearances this year.

Analysis: This trade isn't going to really affect both teams. Both are decent catchers who probably aren't good enough to serve as backups on their respective teams. I'd probably have to say that Recker is a slightly better player, due to some pop to his bat.

Athletics acquire Jesse Chavez

The Athletics have acquired pitcher Jesse Chavez from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations.

Chavez has posted an 8.44 ERA with 11.4 K/9 in 21 1/3 innings with Toronto this year. He was designated for assignment earlier in the year but cleared waivers. He has spent most of the season in Triple-A as a starter, posting a 3.98 ERA in 95 innings. Earlier in the season, the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks of the Japanese league made an offer to the Blue Jays to acquire Chavez, but Toronto declined.

Analysis: Well, Chavez isn't a great pitcher by any means but he'll serve as rotation depth. I'm sure Billy Beane has been looking for depth over the last few days following Bartolo Colon's 50 game suspension.

Colon suspended for 50 games following positive drug test

Athletics pitcher Bartolo Colon will be suspended for 50 games following a positive drug test. Colon tested positive for testosterone.

Colon brought his career back to life last season after undergoing an experimental stem cell treatment on his injured shoulder. He eventually made a few starts with the Yankees and signed with Oakland last winter.

He has pitched to a 3.43 ERA in 24 starts and 152 1/3 innings for Oakland this season. He signed a one-year, $2 million contract, therefore making him a free agent at the end of the year.

Brett Anderson joined Oakland's rotation last night, and he will join Brandon McCarthy, Tommy Milone, and Jarrod Parker in the rotation for the remainder of the year. Dan Straily, Tyson Ross and Travis Blackley could also make a few spot starts, meaning that Oakland does indeed have some rotation depth.

Analysis: Tough break for Oakland. Colon was having such a great year and he might be a big loss for the Athletics. Luckily, like I mentioned before, Oakland does have some rotation depth so this isn't the end of the world. Now, I'll be surprised if Colon doesn't call it quits because he really doesn't have anything to play for now.

Athletics sign Jason Jaramillo

The Athletics have signed catcher Jason Jaramillo to a minor league deal. They have also assigned him to Triple-A.

Jaramillo had a few brief stints with the Pirates back from 2009-2011. He has a career .235 batting average.

Analysis: I suppose catching depth is nice, but don't expect Jaramillo to get the call to the big leagues this year.

Athletics designate Godfrey for assignment

The Athletics have designated pitcher Graham Godfrey for assignment. The move makes roster space for newly-acquired infielder Stephen Drew, who was acquired from the Diamondbacks on Monday.

Godfrey had a brief stint with Oakland this year, and appeared in five games for Oakland this year, posting a 6.43 ERA in 21 innings. Oakland originally acquired him in the Marco Scutaro deal after the 2007 season.

Analysis: Godfrey put up very good numbers in the minors but I don't expect a team to put a claim on him. Hopefully he sticks with Oakland because they definitely need bullpen depth.

Athletics acquire Stephen Drew

The Athletics have acquired shortstop Stephen Drew from the Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league infielder Seth Jamieson. Oakland will pay the rest of Drew's 2012 salary, which is roughly $1.9 million. They haven't decided whether they will pick up his 2013 mutual option yet.

The Athletics were definitely linked to Drew prior to the July 31st trading deadline, but the two sides did not agree on a deal. Drew suffered a severe ankle injury last July that ended his 2011 season and cost him a few months in 2012. He has hit just .193 this season, but has a career .270 batting average and is a clear upgrade over Cliff Pennington.

Drew's mutual option for 2013 is worth roughly $10 million, and the buyout is worth $1.3 million.

Jamieson was Oakland's 17th round selection in the 2011 draft. He has hit .234 in 540 plate appearances in Single-A this season, and also is a shortstop.

Analysis: Well I've been saying for the last few days that Oakland needed infield help and this is actually a pretty good move. I give Billy Beane props for buying low on Stephen Drew. Also, acquiring Drew gives Oakland's fan base a sense of thinking that the Athletics are willing to contend this season. Like I said earlier, he is a clear cut upgrade over Cliff Pennington, and I really hope he resurrects his career in Oakland. As for the Diamondbacks, it is pretty sad that they have to get rid of him, and possibly start rebuilding again. Drew's value was so low and he wasn't contributing at all to the team, but now Arizona is forced to use veteran Willie Bloomquist at shortstop. Also, this prospect Seth Jamieson doesn't sound too promising, so I wouldn't be over-ally excited if I was a Diamondbacks fan.

Athletics designate Recker for assignment

The Athletics have designated catcher Anthony Recker for assignment. The move creates space for Brett Anderson, who will be reinstated from the 60 day disabled list.

Recker appeared in 13 games for Oakland early on in the season, but hasn't played a game with them since May. He has hit .265 in 229 plate appearances at the Triple-A level this year.

Analysis: Recker will probably clear waivers, but if a team claims him their pretty much just getting catching depth. He is a decent hitter, but a backup catcher on an MLB team at best.

Athletics sign Accardo

The Athletics have signed relief pitcher Jeremy Accardo, who was released by the Indians last week. Accardo will be assigned to Oakland's Triple-A affiliate.

Accardo has posted a 4.58 ERA in 26 appearances for Cleveland this season, and is in his eight professional season.

Griffin hits the 15 day DL

The Athletics have placed pitcher A.J. Griffin on the 15 day disabled list with a strained right shoulder. The A's have called lefty Pedro Figueroa from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Griffin has had a nice season, posted a 2.42 ERA in 8 game started.

Should the Athletics buy or sell?

Coming into this season, I honestly thought the Athletics would be the laughing stock of the American League, with the exception to the Twins. If you told me that they would be 55-46 by July 30, I would have probably thought you were high on drugs. After selling off a ton of their star players last off-season, Billy Beane (pictured) and Co. pretty much wanted to get their young players some exposure to the big leagues in order to start the rebuilding process. Little did they know, trading away their big name players was probably the best thing they could have done.

Trading Gio Gonzalez and Trevor Cahill brought in some nice pitching prospects, most of whom are currently contributing at the major league level. Trading Andrew Bailey brought in Josh Reddick, who has been a spark plug for the Athletics offense. They also acquired closer Ryan Cook in the Cahill deal, who has pitched great with Oakland. Once again Billy Beane has found no name players and turned them into star players, for a fraction of the cost. When the Tigers released Brandon Inge earlier, practically no one wanted to even show interest in him because his skills were degrading. Billy Beane realized that he would be a cheap option and could just simply need a change of scenery. He was right, Inge thrived with Oakland over the first few weeks but has cooled down since then.

Anyway, the title of this article is Should the A's buy or sell? Honestly, I'm a very conservative fan. If my team is doing bad at the deadline, I would want them to trade some players to acquire some prospects that can help the following year. This situation with Oakland, however, is different. The Athletics actually have a shot this year, and I think that they should make some trades. Should they give up top prospects? Absolutely not. Billy Beane's Moneyball approach can only take his team so far, and he is going to have to bring in a good bat or two eventually. Doing that with a small market team without giving up top prospects is a difficult task, but I think he is capable of getting some deals done.

The Athletics offense has always been a weakness, and they will need to upgrade it. Recently, they acquired catcher George Kottaras from the Brewers which is by no means a blockbuster move, but it is definitely an under the radar move. Kottaras will fit in perfectly with Beane's system, because he draws walks and puts up incredible on base percentages each and every year. A position that should be upgraded is shortstop, because Pennington/Sogard have not been getting the job done. There have been so many reports lately saying that Oakland has been looking at Jays' shortstop Yunel Escobar. While Escobar is a great player in all, that really wouldn't be a good move considering that Toronto's asking price for the young shortstop is very high. They have also looked into acquiring Jimmy Rollins, and supposedly he won't cost a top prospect if Oakland covers most, if not all, of his remaining salary on his contract. That would kill Oakland, because like I said before they are a small market team, so Rollins is pretty much out of the equation. Stephen Drew is a possibility, but the asking price for him is also pretty high, according to several reports.

The starting rotation is full of rookies, and then there's Bartolo Colon. I don't know if Colon and his, large stature, will sustain the final two months of the season. That's why, if I was Billy Beane, I'd be going after a starting pitcher like, perhaps, Dempster? The A's need a veteran presence in that rotation, and Dempster would be a great fit, although a trade to Oakland is highly unlikely.

There are plenty of other positions that Oakland needs to upgrade. They could either choose to lay low at this year's deadline, or they could make a big splash, which is unlikely. Oakland doesn't want to ruin its future and I don't blame them. Overall, Billy Beane has a tough decision to make, but at least its a good decision to be making.