Oakland’s Young Arms Expendable?

In a recent post on MLBTradeRumors.com, the Oakland Athletics were a topic of Peter Gammons’ discussion about the increasing value of minor league players.

The A’s, who boast one of the deepest rotations in baseball, also have a ton of young talented pitchers on the rise. Guys like Brett Anderson and Gio Gonzalez are considered to have the raw skills necessary to have long lasting careers in the majors, but would Oakland, a team that finished the 2010 season with a major-league best 103 quality starts, ever consider moving one of those young arms in a trade?

Well, for a team like the Yankees, who missed out on a guy like Cliff Lee, it wouldn’t hurt to attempt to gauge Oakland’s interest in a potential trade.

"“The Yankees, who have done a great job with their development system as well, could end up – if Oakland doesn’t get off to a really good start – they could turn around and go and get one of those young left-handed pitchers. I can see Gio Gonzalez, I can see [Brett] Anderson. It’s going to cost them three pretty good prospects, really good prospects. But that’s better than waiting around for a year and spending a ridiculous amount of money on whoever might be a free-agent pitcher. —Peter Gammons"

For Oakland, however, would it work?

The A’s are entering the season with high hopes, but what happens if the team starts off slow, as Gammons puts it? Does Billy Beane and the rest of the A’s front office start planning for yet another rebuilding process?

I wouldn’t count on Oakland moving any of their young pitchers this season. I think the team is built around the strength of the starting rotation and the bullpen, and I wouldn’t want to mess with that foundation.

Anderson, Gonzalez, and Trevor Cahill are the real deal when it comes to talent, and 2011 should be their year to shine. The A’s front office has been rebuilding for what seems like an eternity, but they’ve finally laid out the foundation for the “Big Three” Version 2.0, so why mess with it?

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