Buyers and Sellers - Oakland A's

Anyone who has watched the A's under Billy Beane over the years knows that they are both buyers and sellers. The modus operandi seems to be to buy during the season and sell in the off-season though.

Every year they seem to make a mid-season acquisition that addresses their biggest need. What are their biggest needs this year? I would say a big bat to help the offense either at 1st, 2nd, SS (Crosby may be good in a couple of years but he's not Angel Berroa good as a rookie) or outfield. That leaves things pretty wide open for Billy Beane.

You can't help but hear rumors that they may be looking to deal one of their Big 3 pitchers (specifically Barry Zito - which I don't understand because Zito is under contract for 2005 for little more than what Mark Redman will be paid). In the past Beane would allow the top players to walk away as free agents (like Giambi and Tejada) because he knew he would be getting top draft picks in compensation. Now that has been taken away in the new collective bargaining agreement - so people look for him to deal his free agents that Oakland can't afford to resign. Why is that?

Beane has built his system based on value. A year of Barry Zito in his prime has a lot of value. It would be tough to get equal compensation for that value and what sense does it make to trade Zito out of the rotation just as you are making a playoff push? The A's have Rich Harden and Joe Blanton - so they are OK as far as prospects are concerned.

Beane has shown that he retains good relations with Paul DePodesta (now LA's GM) and JP Riccardi (the GM in Toronto). If the Blue Jays are out of playoff contention and have no chance of resigning Carlos Delgado - do you think Beane will use Delgado as a rent-a-player in Oakland this year?