JOSE, CAN YOU SEE

DUMB HEADLINES RETHOUGHT

The A's picked up Jose Guillen from the Reds for a few pitchers and a minor leaguer. We don't have a lot of time to breakdown the trade, but you know everyone will be talking about this trade.

In the short run the A's get one of the top 5 producers at the plate in MLB for a AAA starter, AAA closer and recent draft pick. Most likely that is the case when the minor leaguer is not named (there has not been confirmation of the minor leaguer-so ESPN might be reporting both the minor leaguer and Joe Valentine rather than the minor leaguer IS Joe Valentine). MLB forces teams to hold onto a player for at least one year after being drafted before they can be officially dealt.

There has been a lot of Billy Beane bashing in the past few days and this trade may be a stroke of just having everything fall into the GM's lap. Billy really didn't have to work to get this trade via the media...which is typical of Beane. Many of the A's trades just look like no-brainer/slam dunks.