Trade Deadline Preview: The Oakland Athletics

[Ted Schwerzler]

Although Oakland is currently looking up in their division, the need to increase their hold on a Wild Card spot is there, and Minnesota has the firepower to help them do just that.

What’s Their Situation?

The Oakland Athletics currently find themselves second in the American League West with a record of 52-40. They are 3.5 games back of the Houston Astros and have a 3.5 game lead on the Seattle Mariners for the 2nd Wild Card spot. Ideally, this is a team angling for a postseason berth. Unlikely to have the firepower necessary to catch Houston, hanging onto a Wild Card spot and going from there would seem to be a good goal. 

Traditionally the Athletics aren’t big spenders, but it’s hardly uncommon for them to see their names in the thick of things when the dust settles on the season. After beating the White Sox in the Wild Card round a year ago, Oakland would love to exact revenge against the division-rival Astros, who they bowed out against in the Division Series.

What Do They Need?

Bob Melvin’s club could probably use a bit more hitting help than pitching, given they’re within the top 10 in the latter while being outside it in the former. There’s power in the lineup, but the designated hitter spot could use an upgrade, and that’s exactly where rumors have them focusing. Jon Heyman recently noted that Oakland would be seen as a legitimate landing spot for the services of Twins slugger Nelson Cruz.

Oakland’s starters have been a top 10 group in baseball, but their bullpen has compiled just the 21st ranked unit in terms of fWAR. Plucking from the 25th best unit in Minnesota doesn’t provide many options, but there are at least two that come to mind.

Which Twins Are the Best Fit?

Buyers for a designated hitter aren’t plentiful. Only half of the sport uses one, and half of that half are uncompetitive. Cruz works in Oakland though, and he’d have to be seen as their most desired target from Minnesota. 

Should the Twins want to try and increase the return, packaging the Dominican slugger, adding an arm makes some sense. Taylor Rogers is the most premium of relief options, but someone like Hansel Robles could help as well. They have made impact moves for starters previously, and Jose Berrios would resemble that, but Minnesota also has both J.A. Happ and Michael Pineda on the block.

Who Could the Twins Get Back?

There’s not much hope for a massive return when considering any of the expiring veteran contracts the Twins have. As good as Nelson Cruz has been, the market simply won’t be there to drive the price up too high. That being said, the Athletics have some nice names in their system, and throwing in someone like Taylor Rogers may move the needle. Arguably the most untouchable from Oakland would be 18-year-old shortstop Robert Puason. Short of including Jose Berrios, he’s not coming back to the Twins. 

Someone like Daulton Jefferies or Greg Deichmann could have appeal as they are both now older prospects. Jefferies is a former first-round pick who got blasted in his big league debut and has scuffled at Triple-A this year. Deichmann was a 2017 2nd round pick but is now having his best pro season as a 26-year-old at Triple-A.  If Minnesota wants to try and get creative, working a way to nab Jesus Luzardo would be somewhat of a coup. He hasn’t panned out as expected, but the prospect hype was all there, and a change of scenery could do him well.

I can’t imagine anyone from 15-30 in the Athletics prospect rankings being off the table in a swap that includes Nelson Cruz. Grant Holmes is a 25-year-old Triple-A arm, and Austin Beck was the 6th overall pick as an outfielder back in 2017.

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[mikelink45]

As usual there is nothing very exciting here.  Tossing in Rogers or Berrios as was mentioned should do more than move the needle.  Then we have to get their best, but mainly lets just let Cruz have a nice finish to his season, dump Happ and Pineda and move on.   It is a sad situation when the only things we can write about are speculations about which teams we might trade with and how the minors are doing.   Not TD fault, but it emphasizes how far we have fallen.  

Which brings up another question - why aren't we speculating about one of the three catchers in a trade since that is such a valuable position. 

[TopGunn#22]

I agree Mike !  I'm not anxious to give up one of Garver, Jeffers or Rortvedt but catching is ALWAYS at a premium and with the exception of Rortvedt (whose hitting needs work) the other two could be considered quite valuable.  

I like that Ted mentioned Jesus Luzardo as a possible trade candidate.  He's been a big disappointment to the A's but is certainly the prime type of prospect the Twins should be targeting.  He would be penciled in as one of our 5 starters next season and the upside is there.  He needs to be healthy but he also needs refinement.  What magic could Johnson work with him??  A package of Cruz and Pineda for Luzardo and something more would be a good trade on paper for BOTH teams.  

[roger]

Will agree with the above that I don't see the need, or desire to add someone like Rogers to enhance a Cruz trade.  Cruz just might make the difference for a team like the A's and they may decide to overpay.  If they don't, I doubt they get him and he is their best option for a DH rental.

[Dman]

I don't know if anyone caught the Cubs trade with Atlanta but for a guy who is OPSing 718 they got Atlanta's number 12 prospect.  I think Cruz is more valuable than that.

I think ya all are selling Cruz a bit short.  Both Oakland and Seattle need him pretty badly and I wouldn't count Tampa out unless they do make a move for a 1st baseman and depending on how much capital the Blue Jays spend on pitching upgrades they still might be interested in Cruz as well.

Cruz is a top ten bat in all of MLB.  For a team with postseason aspirations he could possibly be their David Ortiz type bat and carry them in the playoffs if he gets hot.  He is true difference maker for getting to the postseason and possibly moving through it.  I think teams will pay for that.  Maybe not with their top 5 prospects but I still think he brings back something good all on his own.

[jorgenswest]

Luzardo should be targeted. 

It is the kind of return they should seek for Rogers. BTV won’t like it but the demand for really good late inning left handed relief help will be greater than the supply. Luzardo and Trenien were traded from Washington to Oakland a few years ago for Sean Doolittle. BR shows Doolittle as the most similar pitcher to Rogers through age 30.

They might combine Cruz with Garver and cash to try to get Luzardo. 

The Twins need to find someone that sees Cruz as the difference maker. In 1987 the Twins added Don Baylor. In games 6 and 7 of the World Series he was on base in 6 of 8 plate appearances with a home run. Cruz can have that kind of impact in the dugout and at the plate.

[TNtwins85]

Cruz is a fit here! Why in the world would we target Deichmann? We don’t need more outfielders we need pitchers. What about Puk? Seems like he’s faded as well. Another good reclamation change of scenery guy with electric stuff. If nothing else he slides to the bullpen as a shutdown guy. A good fit in a Cruz only trade I believe! It’s one of those rare win win scenarios

[Dodecahedron]

If the Twins have to throw in Rogers for them to take Cruz, then this isn't the right trade.  This would become the very definition of a desperation move, and we'd all point to this trade as a massive error for years to come.

Here, take our best hitter and best pitcher.  We'll take some of your lottery tickets.  Thanks!

[Danchat]

3 hours ago, Dman said:

I don't know if anyone caught the Cubs trade with Atlanta but for a guy who is OPSing 718 they got Atlanta's number 12 prospect.  I think Cruz is more valuable than that.

I think ya all are selling Cruz a bit short.  Both Oakland and Seattle need him pretty badly and I wouldn't count Tampa out unless they do make a move for a 1st baseman and depending on how much capital the Blue Jays spend on pitching upgrades they still might be interested in Cruz as well.

Cruz is a top ten bat in all of MLB.  For a team with postseason aspirations he could possibly be their David Ortiz type bat and carry them in the playoffs if he gets hot.  He is true difference maker for getting to the postseason and possibly moving through it.  I think teams will pay for that.  Maybe not with their top 5 prospects but I still think he brings back something good all on his own.

Huh, that is very surprising... though it looks like Atlanta's farm system isn't that good, and Bryce Ball (aforementioned #12 prospect) would likely be in the #18-24 range in our system. Cruz is a way better hitter than Joc and they are both on expiring deals, so the Twins should certainly get a bigger return than this one. They won't get any top prospects, of course.

[Dman]

3 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Huh, that is very surprising... though it looks like Atlanta's farm system isn't that good, and Bryce Ball (aforementioned #12 prospect) would likely be in the #18-24 range in our system. Cruz is a way better hitter than Joc and they are both on expiring deals, so the Twins should certainly get a bigger return than this one. They won't get any top prospects, of course.

Depending on the system though I can see him getting a guy inside a teams top 10.  The Twins were able to get Duran and Maciel for Esco I think they should be able to do as well or better for Cruz.  

[jorgenswest]

I think the Braves trade for Pederson also demonstrates why the demand for Cruz is limited and the return minimal.

The Braves have a need after losing Acura for a short term outfield replacement. They gather their list of possibilities they should target and Cruz isn’t on that list.

[Dman]

2 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

I think the Braves trade for Pederson also demonstrates why the demand for Cruz is limited and the return minimal.

The Braves have a need after losing Acura for a short term outfield replacement. They gather their list of possibilities they should target and Cruz isn’t on that list.

In my mind the list of suitors means little.  The Twins only need one team to realize the difference he can make and pay a good price to get a deal done.  I would think Seattle would be that team.  They just need another bat and a few more runs and I think they can catch the A's.

If I am the A's I do everything I can to block Seattle from getting him and adding him only helps their offense going forward.  

If I am the Blue Jays I want that difference making bat to try and steal some wins from the Yankee's, Ray's and Boston and if they get pitching on top of it maybe they become wild card favorites.

His bat could literally be the difference in the wild card race between those teams if you ask me.  Granted they all need more pitching as well but I think the team that gets Cruz barring significant pitching injuries is the team that takes the wild card.  I think that is all you need to drive up the price IMO.