B/C he was relatively healthy, by his standards, so Bean chose to strike while the iron was hot

Because he knew Harden was not that healthy, they were not going to exercise the ‘09 option for $7M and were not going to go to arbitration for him. So, instead of waiting to see who they’d get when another team signed him this offseason, they’d deal him now (or actually on July 8th). The pieces Beane got were/are servicable (specifically Gallagher and Murton), Gaudin was thrown in as an insurance policy to that affect. Note the upcoming salaries of the players obtained in return versus what was given to the Cubs. Gaudin is another $3-5M isn’t he? And he’s still under contract going into 2009, right? So that’s over $10M including the exercise of Harden’s option which the Cubs already picked up. What’s the combined 2009 salary of the players the Cubs sent? Less than $1.5M likely and it covers 4 players, albeit 1 is in the minors for sure. So that’s a difference of upwards of $10M and a ratio of salaries of say 7x.

I expect something on a similar scale with Blanton in terms of salary ratio. He got something (low cost players) in return and alleviated the salary burdon by moving Blanton to the Phils. I didn’t follow that situation as tightly as the Cubs so I don’t know all the specifics of money and player differences.

Money.

Okay, maybe that’s a bit unkind. But he’s a very mediocre pitcher whose numbers have been artificially deflated by the Colliseum.

this offseason to the highest bidder. DO NOT keep him around. that arm isnt getting any healthier. Someone will take a chance on him and he’s completely useless on the dl which he will be next year. I like Harden alot and loved it when we got him but he’s more valuable to us as a trade chip then as a reliable starter.

The A’s were not going to win the west. There was no reason not to retool.

BTW, the A’s have some stud pitchers in the minors coming up in the next few years.

A’’s fan here. The A’s babied Harden through 11 straight healthy starts, which is pretty unusual for that him and babying is something the A’s almost never do with pitchers, then traded him to the one team (other than the Angels) that could afford to use him as a once-a-week pitcher. Donaldson looked awful the first part of the year but really good after he was traded, he could be the key.

Despite the surprising start of the A’s in 2008 Billy Beane, in his typical fashion, didn’t deviate from the stated plan. That stated plan? To rebuild once again with an eye toward when the A’s will open up their new stadium in Fremont. Beane doesn’t screw around when he says he is going to get at it. Trading Harden and Blanton was according to plan.

They got Eric Patterson and Matt Murton, neither of whom ended the year in Oakland and neither of whom is probably going to have any significant ML career, and Josh Donaldson, who MIGHT turn into something but is probably at least three years away.

I’ll take that.

I thought I heard he might have a “clean out” performed – is this still the plan? And is Zambrano scheduling any treatment to combat his shoulder woes?