Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Dissecting the Deal

Dissecting the Deal - Jason Kendall to the A's

Over the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend, the Oakland A's traded pitchers Arthur Rhodes and Mark Redman, and cash, to the Pittsburgh Pirates for catcher Jason Kendall and some other cash. Who got the better deal?

Jason Kendall's widely-criticized $60 million contract runs for three more years and calls for the following salaries:

2005 $10 million
2006 $11 million
2007 $13 million

(There's some deferred money in this, but it's deferred with interest, so the present value of Kendall's deal, assuming the interest rate is reasonable, is just about the same.)

Arthur Rhodes is under contract for two more years:

2005 $3.07 million
2006 $3.07 million

As is Mark Redman:

2005 $4.25 million
2006 $4.95 milion.

By the financial terms of the deal that were disclosed, Oakland pays Pittsburgh "approximately" $1 million in each of 2005 and 2006, and gets $5 million in 2007 toward Kendall's salary in 2007.

So the net cost to Oakland (and savings to Pittsburgh) in the deal is:

2005 $3.7 million
2006 $4 million
2007 $8 million

Redman and Rhodes are pretty valuable chips for Pittsburgh to pick up when you think that this is what they save in addition to losing Kendall. If I ask myself what sort of player the Pirates will be able to add as a free agent for a three-year, $16 million deal, in this market, I come up with something between Omar Vizquel and Troy Percival (well, since both of those were not particularly good deals, I should say someone with a perceived value between Vizquel and Percival). That's a pretty good ballplayer, and it swings the balance of this deal over to the Pirates.

Personally, I'm a huge Jason Kendall fan. I think he's a unique and valuable player, who fits the A's approach to perfection. That being said, while I think both teams will benefit from this deal (because of the type of young talent each team has on hand), I think the Pirates will benefit more than the A's. They have added two experienced, useful pitchers, one of whom (Redman) is still young enough to improve if he can recover his terrific form of 2003. Redman is the sort of player, an average guy with the potential to be much better and a slight track record at exceeding expectations, that teams with a smaller budget need to take chances on. Rhodes, for his part, isn't young anymore but has a tremendous track record of success. If he can recapture his form, it will be a huge boost to the Pirates' bullpen.

The A's get one of the game's few star catchers, but one who will be 31 years old next season, and has shouldered a massive load of catching over the past five years, averaging 143 games behind the plate per season. Still, he's young enough to hold his value and good enough to provide a source of runs from a spot where run-producers are hard to find. Kendall seems to be all the way back from the woes that dogged him following his broken leg, but the A's have given up enough to get him that I don't think the Pirates will regret this deal.

Posted by Craig B on Monday, November 29 2004 @ 12:57 PM EST.

Dissecting the Deal - Jason Kendall to the A's | 36 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Mike D - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 01:17 PM EST (#12042) #

Typically sound analysis, Craig. I agree completely.

Assuming the Buccos spend the saved money, who should they go after? They need help in the outfield and in the rotation. And, of course, at catcher.

_Mick - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 01:21 PM EST (#12043) #

I don't think we have all the data to analyze this deal yet, because it just seems inevitable that the Pirates will flip Rhodes, and maybe Redman as well, for kids. Especially since Redman is a lefty, I'd think that teams who "lose" the so-called Big Unit Sweepstakes Tournament (abbreviation: B.U.S.T.) will line up to get Redman.

Say, Rhodes to the Yankees (who crave lefty arms) for Dionar Navarro,
and Redman to Texas (where he would be the #2 guy almost immediately) for something like Jason Botts and Erik Thompson?

Something like that.

Will what the A's pay Kendall and Crosby in two years outpace what they would have paid to keep Tejada and Hernandez?

_Marc - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 01:32 PM EST (#12044) #

I still view this deal as lopsided in the Pirates' favour. They get a proven left-handed starting pitcher, who should pitch much better in a return to the NL and a proven lefty reliever, whom I imagine will get traded for a veteran catcher. The Pirates already have lots of left handed relievers and a pretty decent bullpen for a small market team.

The A's get a proven leader and (likely) number 2 hitter. But he has had some nasty injuries in the past and has zero power for a $10 million hitter. His defense leaves something to be desired too. The A's are small market team, so the added payroll could hurt them at some point, especially if they now do not resign (and/or offer arbitration to) Durazo (power, on base). The loss of Redman, leaves a hole in their rotation as well, although Harden can easily slide up into the fourth hole with Etherton, Blanton, Duchscherer or a cheap free agent filling that hole. I would think this trade would also limit the chance that one of "the big three" might get traded this offseason.

Everything being said, I would replace Damian Miller for Jason Kendall and two first round picks anyday... It's simply the added money that worries me. Redman and Rhodes should be fairly replaceable from the A's perspective and are far more valuable to the Pirates.

On a side note... a three year contract (before the arbitration deadline) to Miller (at age 35) is yet another dumb move by Milwaukee (if the deal goes through). How does that organization survive?

Mike Green - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 01:35 PM EST (#12045) #

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/statalpitch/
I'm not so fond of Redman and Rhodes. COMN for THT's take on them (cursor to Oakland). FIPs over 5 and 6 respectively. In other words, Redman did not pitch as effectively as Miguel Batista last year. It's a very bad sign for a pitcher when the K/HR rate is 4-1 or less.

The big advantage for Pittsburgh is not paying Jason Kendall $8 million in 2007. At this point, he's caught 1200 games. By 2007, he'll be very close to 1500 all going well, and his ability to catch more than 120 games or so will be very much in doubt, as will maintenance of his performance level.

I see this deal as trading of problem contracts, with a modest edge to Oakland. I initially misread the dollar figures, and had all the money coming to Oakland.

Pistol - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 01:35 PM EST (#12046) #

I thought Redman was younger, but he'll be 31 at the beginning of the 05 season. He's now on his 5th team in 5 years and has a career ERA+ of 103, with a career best ERA+ of 112. That looks like an average journeyman pitcher to me.

Rhodes is 35 and his career has bounced around a bit. His last 4 years:

Year	K/9	BB/9	HR/9
2001	11.0	1.6	0.7
2002	10.5	1.7	0.5
2003	8.0	3.0	0.7
2004	7.9	4.9	2.1

That trend is going the wrong way in every category. I'm not sure how much you can expect out of Rhodes at this point.

The only thing the Pirates got out of this trade was saving money, and a big hole at catcher. Two years from now Redman and Rhodes aren't likely to be part of the team. They'll just have a little more money to sign free agents that no one else wants.

_Jabonoso - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 01:38 PM EST (#12047) #

This deal surprised me a lot. I believe that both southpaws are pretty ble commodities, thus eliminating the "savings" in the balance sheet. I like Kendall, but abhorre his contract, and the second to last place i would assume would take it was Oakland.
I can see Rhodes in pinstripes or any big spending team.
It is a very sweet trade from the Pirates side and something bold and risky for the A's ( will Kendall be healthy for three years? )
Now that the price bar for increasing your run production is so high, i will be very dissapointed if Delgado not get more than 7 mil per from our brass.

Mike Green - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 01:41 PM EST (#12048) #

It is a well-known fact that Pistol and I are 2 separate individuals. Appearances to the contrary sometimes are purely coincidental.

_Jabonoso - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 01:42 PM EST (#12049) #

ble: please read "tradeable"

_R Billie - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 01:54 PM EST (#12050) #

I think the key to fighting Kendall's age is that the A's can rest him one day a week and DH him one day a week. Essentially two days off per week from the rigors of catching and one day out of the lineup.

They will be paying him a lot but given how much even average catching has cost the past couple of years and in light of the risky Pudge and (soon-to-be) Varitek megadeals, they can probably trade Kendall in the last year of the contract if they have to. Assuming he doesn't blow up. If he performs they probably wouldn't have to eat any contract (see the Twins and Pierzinski).

Pistol - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 02:04 PM EST (#12051) #

For what it's worth, if I recall correctly at the time of the Kendall contract signing most people considered it a really good signing.

Craig B - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 02:23 PM EST (#12052) #

I think the key to fighting Kendall's age is that the A's can rest him one day a week and DH him one day a week. Essentially two days off per week from the rigors of catching and one day out of the lineup.

This is true; but if this is the case, then you lose his production one day a week, and suffer the dropoff in production from Erubiel Durazo (or his replacement) to Kendall on another day.

In all, I think this trade is a benefit to Oakland, who get a star in Kendall, the sort of guy who a contending team needs. (Teams win, most of the time, on the backs of stars). I just think it benefits Pittsburgh more, since they get good complementary guys to try to push them closer to contention. Jason Kendall means completely different things to Pittsburgh and Oakland, and moving him from one to the other is the right deal. Likewise, Oakland don't need average pitchers like Mark Redman, but the Pirates can really use him.

_DeMarco - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 02:33 PM EST (#12053) #

Contracts aside, I think Oakland got a good catcher for two average players, thus in a world were salaries didn't matter I would say Oakland robbed Pittsburg.

However we don't live in that world so you have to consider the contracts. While Kendall's contract is bad, I don't think it will be as easy as some might suggest for Pittsburg to unload Redman and Rhodes. I also feel that and feel that Rhodes and Redman are easily replacable commodities, while Kendall may not be. I feel Oakland is a better team for having made this deal, and I'm not sure they could have made the same kind of impact on spending an additional $4 million. On the flip side I think Pittsburg is worse off after this deal and won't be better even if they spend the difference in dollars.

History will look back on this trade in a very different manner that how we look at it today, and my guess is that history will favour Oakland's end of the deal.

_R Billie - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 02:33 PM EST (#12054) #

I think if Kendall DH's on a day that a lefty is pitching then the dropoff from Durazo to him is minimal if not an advantage.

_Jeff Geauvreau - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 02:36 PM EST (#12055) #

Craig can you email me re the campaign ! Jeff

_Jeff Geauvreau - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 02:44 PM EST (#12056) #

Hey Guys,join NAMED FOR HANK in joining the Batter's Box Dome name buying campaign.

Mike Green , Pistol , Demarco , Marc , Mike D , R Billie and my good friend from Mexico jabonoso.

See the Rogers Dome thread for more info.

_Wildrose - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 02:45 PM EST (#12057) #

http://www.athleticsnation.com/
The boys at the Athletic Nation broke down this trade as well,(comm)scroll down to the article by Faust.

Of interest, if you scroll down even further you'll see they plan to have a question and answer session with J.P. Riccardi who according to someone on this blog has a contact with him . If you read some of the questions however,some of the guys seem to think he's the Dodger G.M.

_Smirnoff - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 03:09 PM EST (#12058) #

The A's needed a #2 hitter. The A's needed a catcher. The A's filled both roles with a move that also allowed them to get rid of a player that they didn't want with an attitude problem. It cost them a solid starting pitcher. They have capable guys that can fill that role though. They will save money with their replacement options. They have Swisher to save them money on the offensive side. I thought this was a good trade for the A's, even when looking at dollars. Assuming Kendall doesn't collapse dramatically, he should have some value on the market if necessary.

From the Pittsburgh perspective, I think they did well. They added a veteran arm and a decent middle reliever. They got rid of a bad contract.

I think too much emphasis is being put on the cost-benefit analysis off the field (which is far more difficult for us to predict) as opposed to the cost-benefit analysis on the field. If Beane thinks he is running out of chances with the big three, I don't see anything wrong with him overpaying a bit to take a shot now.

_Mick - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 03:16 PM EST (#12059) #

Not to go all father-son-misty-water-colored-memories on everyone, but speaking of Kendall and Swisher, weren't Fred Kendall and Steve Swisher pretty much the same guy in the 1970's?

_Tassle - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 06:43 PM EST (#12060) #

Man, I just love the Pirates. It's going to be fun to watch them grow over the next few years. They've got a pair of budding stars in Bay and Perez, a guy who could be an absolutely dominant closer in Gonzalez, a guy who, if he returns to form, has already proven himself as an above-average starting pitcher in Wells, a couple of potentially above-average position players in Wilson and Wilson, and now $8 million dollars in payroll flexibility in 2007, when they could be one player away from seriously contending.
And even star may be a bit of an understatement when talking about Oliver Perez. He's become one of the most dominant pitchers in the National League at 23, with completely ridiculous strikeout numbers remniscent of a young Randy Johnson. Unlike Randy, however, Oliver has gotten his control issues out of the way very early in his career, setting the stage for what could very easily be a Hall of Fame career.
I personally don't think it's going to be very long until the Pirates are contenders again in the National league.

_Tassle - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 06:44 PM EST (#12061) #

Check that. Last year was his age-22 season...

*drools*

_Mike Forbes - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 07:32 PM EST (#12062) #

Oliver Perez is gonna win a few Cy Young awards before all is said and done in his career. Mark my words. Totally devestating is the best way to describe his stuff.

_Mike Forbes - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 07:47 PM EST (#12063) #

And while i'm rambling, here's a trade idea that I saw on foxsports.com that involves two of baseballs best friends.

"Trade talk: Toronto sends RHP Justin Speier, OF Gabe Gross and pitching prospect Francisco Rosario to Oakland in exchange for LHP Barry Zito and 1B Graham Koonce. Toronto gets support for Roy Halladay and Ted Lilly at the top of the rotation, in addition to insurance at first base. Oakland gets a reliable bullpen arm, a top outfield prospect and an intriguing arm that could have a big future. Plus, in a sentimental side note, the A's acquire their bench coach's son."

What do you think?

_Four Seamer - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 08:59 PM EST (#12064) #

http://cubs.scout.com/2/310989.html
I'd place more stock in that rumour if Fox Sports was aware that Chris Speier was now coaching third for the Cubs (COMN) ;)

I'm intrigued by that deal, though. It seems like a better fit, really, than signing Clement, but we will have to see.

_Rob - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 09:01 PM EST (#12065) #

What do you think?

Well...

Zito has not been going in the right direction lately. His ERA and WHIP both went up since 2002, and his 2004 stats were worse than his career averages across the board. I've never seen him pitch, other than throwing baseballs at windows on Letterman and on the Chris Issak Show, but those stats aren't right for a 26 year old. Of course, he is entering his prime and could be a great part of the Jays' rotation. They will also hold his rights for 2006, since he won't be at six years of service time until midway through that year. 4.8 million is a good price to pay for a pitcher who will be pitching behind Doc and Lilly, but if he doesn't figure out his stuff, it will be another Lidle contract.

Koonce had a great 2003 with AAA Sacramento. He made the 2003 Baseball America PCL All-Star team, and things were looking good. He was mainly a DH with the River Cats this year (Dan Johnson put up better numbers at first), and Toronto already has a DH in Catalanotto. If Koonce plays first for the Jays in 2005, it would not be a viable solution, and if it's a backup 1B they need, Crozier fills that spot. Koonce could work out down the road, but I don't see him contributing above replacement level in 2005.

You all know Speier and Gross, so I don't need to get into detail with them. Francisco Rosario is interesting, though. I think he could start at AAA this year, but J.P. might want him to take it easy after the surgery of 2003 and the extra work in the AFL recently.

A few things happen, though:
Bad thing #1: With Gross gone, Catalanotto plays LF. Can he handle that?
Bad thing #2: Batista is the closer, which I don't like. They also lose a potentially valuable 8th inning pitcher in Speier.
However, good thing #1: Halladay-Lilly-Zito-Bush is a great 1-4, which I will be more than happy with -- if Zito pitches like his career numbers show he can pitch.

Bottom line: I would make this trade. It's the kind of high-risk deal this team needs now. Zito can turn things around, hopefully, and Koonce adds another body to the first base mix when Delgado leaves. Gross looks like he needs more time in AAA, but Koonce doesn't. Speier is a significant loss, as I still don't like having Batista in the bullpen. Rosario hasn't pitched above AA yet, and with the pitching depth in the system, I would have no qualms moving him.

_Jeff Geauvreau - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 09:34 PM EST (#12066) #

Hey Guys go check out the Rogers set to buy the Dome thread.

We are up to $830.00 in Pledges to buy the naming rights for the Batter's Box Dome.

Please Pledge soon and support a noble and worthy cause.

Jeff Geauvreau

_Jonny German - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 11:12 PM EST (#12067) #

Nice analysis Rob. I don't think Oakland makes that trade, but I'm not as hopeful about Rosario as many others.

_Matt - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 11:30 PM EST (#12068) #

Well... Since we're talking about catchers.... Is anyone concerned that we didn't take a shot at Mirabelli?

The BoSox got a ridiculous deal assuming that he's a guy that can put up the numbers from this year over 120 games or so... I saw him catch at the Batters-Box-Dome this year and he blasted several monster shots while posting solid road numbers thus dispelling the notion that his 2004 numbers were aided by fenway....

I know the career OBP isn't as high as what he has posted over the years before... but I thought he would've been worthy of the contract he received from the BoSox perhaps elsewhere in a starters capacity...

_#2JBrumfield - Monday, November 29 2004 @ 11:38 PM EST (#12069) #

Man, I just love the Pirates. It's going to be fun to watch them grow over the next few years. They've got a pair of budding stars in Bay and Perez, a guy who could be an absolutely dominant closer in Gonzalez.

I agree, they do have some nice talent on that club, especially Mike Gonzalez. To be honest, I never really heard of him before until I went to a game at PNC Park between the Pirates and Braves in late July, a game the Bucs blew in the 9th. I remember being just blown away by his numbers on the scoreboard when he came on in relief. His ERA was below 1 at the time and his end of year stats were 3-1 with a 1.25 ERA and 55-6 K/BB ratio in 43.1 innings. That's just sick! That's usually numbers you see out of pitchers in Rookie Ball or low Class A. They need some mashers in that line-up though. Maybe Brad Eldred from Double A can help out down the line. According to Baseball America, Eldred belted a 500 foot homer in New Hampshire and also hit a 470 foot blast off the roof of the Erie Civic Centre (home of the OHL's Otters) outside Jerry Uht Park.

As for the Kendall trade, Pittsburgh does seem to have some depth at the position in the minors with J.R. House, Humberto Cota, and Neil Walker, their first rounder, so they should be able to withstand Kendall's loss. Maybe they'll go after Gregg Zaun if they want veteran insurance. Getting Redman's a good move to help the rotation but I don't think Rhodes will be in Pittsburgh for long. They do seem to have enough plenty of lefties with Gonzalez, Johnston, and Grabow.

I definitely plan on heading to PNC Park again, and even though I haven't seen a game at Camden Yards or San Francisco, I'm convinced that PNC Park is the best damn park on the planet, period. If the Pirates ever return to their form of the early 90's, tickets will be extremely tough to get. Besides, now with the Expos gone, I believe that makes Pittsburgh the closest NL team to Toronto geographically.

_okbluejays - Tuesday, November 30 2004 @ 12:43 AM EST (#12070) #

I don't post a lot, so I don't know why I am choosing to speak out about a rumored deal that cannot possibly have any merit... Zito is certainly a guy whose value is on the decline, and whose numbers indicate that the worst may yet be to come. Still, he surely retains a high perceived value for some GM's due to his youth, LHP status, and recent Cy Young, so you would have to think the A's could do better than this. Furthermore, I don't see why the A's would want Gross with Swisher coming along. I don't think either are going to end up being all-star players, and I don't where the A's would play Gross if they had him. Rosario was very hyped before the year, but his value is really tied up in what scouts think he may accomplish once his recovery gets further along, and not based on his performance last year. Too big a question mark for a deal like this.

Personally, I think if Oakland is going to trade Zito they'd find a better fit with the Braves or the Rangers, just to name two examples.

And I think the Kendall trade ties in to this whole discussion. With the A's now committed to bigger bucks down the road with scheduled increases to Chavez and Kendall, does this impede their ability to get Hudson or Mulder signed up long-term? You'd think they'd want to sign one of their "big 3" long term to serve as a bridge between the old generation and the next generation... but I could very well be wrong.

_Lugnut Fan - Tuesday, November 30 2004 @ 08:46 AM EST (#12071) #

I believe that both teams won in this deal. Kendall is definitely and upgrade at catcher over Miller, and should really fit in well. He is a solid top of the order hitter although that could change soon if he stays catching and his knees start to go.

Pittsburgh is in desperate need of pitching. Redman and Rhodes are a good start. Redman is a solid starter and Rhodes will be a good out of the pen arm. The thing is that Redman is not a number one starter, he is better suited as a #3 or #4 guy.

_Marc - Tuesday, November 30 2004 @ 09:19 AM EST (#12072) #

If the A's trade Zito, I think it will be for more than an average relief pitcher, a fourth outfielder (at this point) and a promising but horribly inconsistent starter.

Gross needs to step it up and decided whether he is going to be a high-average hitter or a power hitter. Unfortunately he has never shown the power one would like to see for a corner outfielder but with Wells mashing in centre, that could be overlooked. However, Gross hasn't shown better numbers in the minors or majors than Reed Johnson (and Johnson plays with a lot more heart). For a number one pick, I would have to say that Gross has been a disappointment so far.

Rosario needs to get his head screwed on... he reminds me a little of Guzman or Escobar in the sense that he has great stuff but just can't harness it for any extended period of time. Maybe it's just because he's coming back from TJ... I haven't been impressed since he went down with the injury. At this point his career appears headed for the pen. I also think it would be a mistake to send him to triple-A to start the season. He really hasn't done anything to deserve it... let him go back to double-A, dominate and then move up.

I've always liked Speier but, like I said, he is your average (but successful) reliever. That said, the A's could use him.

The Pirates... They have a very interesting base for success but I don't put a whole lot of confidence in the way the organization has been run in past few years. They make some very poor decisions with contracts and free agents. It will be a big mistake on their part to let Craig Wilson go by not offering him arbitration, which I have read they just might do. He is one of the only power threats they have and he put up some ridiculous numbers last year early on before tiring in the second half. If he is let go, I'd like to see him come back to the organization that signed him originally... He'd make a nice DH and backup at 1B, RF and emergency third catcher.

_Tassle - Tuesday, November 30 2004 @ 03:57 PM EST (#12073) #

The thing is that Redman is not a number one starter, he is better suited as a #3 or #4 guy.

But they already have that #1 starter in Oliver Perez. The objective now is to build a rotation around him as the centerpiece, and I think Redman fits that bill.

_Dr B - Wednesday, December 01 2004 @ 12:44 AM EST (#12074) #

Redman is a solid starter and Rhodes will be a good out of the pen arm.

Not to pick on you particularly, Lugnut Fan, but have you looked at Pistol's analysis of Rhodes' recent numbers? That's a nasty trend. It is a gamble whether Rhodes will ever recover. If he does, all power to the Pirates, but they shouldn't count on it.

_Marc - Wednesday, December 01 2004 @ 09:21 AM EST (#12075) #

But they already have that #1 starter in Oliver Perez.

Perez is only 23 with 69 career starts, and while he's a very impressive young pitcher, I wouldn't put the pressure of No. 1 starter on him just yet. He hasn't even pitched 200 innings in a season.

The closest thing the Pirates have right now to a No. 1 is Kip Wells and he is more suited to being a good No. 3 guy.

2005 Pirates rotation:
1. Wells (really No.3)
2. Perez (solid No.2, future No.1)
3. Mark Redman (No. 3/4)
4. Josh Fogg (solid No. 4)
5. VanBenschoten, Snell, Stewart, or Dave Williams (all have promise)

The rotation will be even better if and when lefty Sean Burnett returns from TJ surgery in 2006. The Pirates have the making of an above average staff if they can avoid having to non-tender Wells and/or Fogg at the arbitration deadline.

_Chuck Van Den C - Wednesday, December 01 2004 @ 11:33 AM EST (#12076) #

While Kendall's contract is bad, I don't think it will be as easy as some might suggest for Pittsburg to unload Redman and Rhodes. I also feel that and feel that Rhodes and Redman are easily replacable commodities, while Kendall may not be. I feel Oakland is a better team for having made this deal, and I'm not sure they could have made the same kind of impact on spending an additional $4 million. On the flip side I think Pittsburg is worse off after this deal and won't be better even if they spend the difference in dollars.

DeMarco, I agree entirely with this analysis. The A's got a very good player (though one who is underrated because he's no longer the star he was in his mid-20's) and gave up two players who were nothing special in 2004 and who may never return to their previously higher caliber levels, especially Rhodes, who has had two good seasons in the past six.

Would the A's had made the move for Kendall had they not been saddled with hefty contracts for Redman and Rhodes? Most probably not. Given that they had those contracts, was the incremental spending to upgrade from Redman/Rhodes to Kendall worth it? Most probably yes.

Personally, I think if Oakland is going to trade Zito they'd find a better fit with the Braves or the Rangers, just to name two examples.

I agree. I can't see Beane trading Zito to any sabermetrically-minded organization that recognizes that Zito's luster has faded. Better to cash in on Zito's name recognition with a less discriminating organization.

Man, I just love the Pirates. It's going to be fun to watch them grow over the next few years. They've got a pair of budding stars in Bay and Perez

How many times in the past decade do you reckon someone has uttered the words "I just love the Pirates"? We now know that the answer is at least once, which is once more than I might have guessed.

Tassle, I don't share your enthusiasm. I am nervous about Bay, given that he was such an old rookie (started the season at 25, ended it at 26). That doesn't necessarily mean he's the second coming of Kevin Maas, but it should at least make you a bit nervous.

No arguments about Perez, of course. Nothing there not to like. The only area of concern would be his workload. He'll be 23/24 next season. I'm not sure I'd want to see 220 innings out of him just yet.

_Mick - Wednesday, December 01 2004 @ 12:16 PM EST (#12077) #

Personally, I think if Oakland is going to trade Zito they'd find a better fit with the Braves or the Rangers, just to name two examples.

Near the trade deadline, the Rangers were looking for pitching (duh) to stay in contention and were rumoured to have inquired about Zito. Talk radio here in DFW reported that the A's asked for Teixeira.

Yeah, that didn't happen.

Dissecting the Deal - Jason Kendall to the A's | 36 comments | Create New Account

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