What will Billy Beane do at this year's trade deadline? (Photo Credit: bayareasportsguy.com)

A’s general manager Billy Beane is usually busy around this time of year, but this season the A’s GM just might resist the urge to move some of his players before the trade deadline on July 31. The Athletics haven’t been in contention for a while now, but as Susan Slusser from the San Francisco Chronicle reports, that doesn’t necessarily mean Beane & Co. will move players before the deadline.

The A’s were figured to ship players like David DeJesus, Josh Willingham, Coco Crisp, Rich Harden, Brad Ziegler, and a few other players who will be free agents after this season to contending teams. But according to Slusser’s interview, Beane hasn’t received any trade proposals worth accepting.

Oakland has been a major disappointment this season, as the team’s offense struggled during the first-half of the season and wasted solid pitching performances on a nightly basis. Despite this, however, the A’s front office just doesn’t seem inclined to move the aforementioned players. Are they asking for too much? It’s possible.

Who knows, perhaps Beane will keep the team intact for the remainder of the season. The A’s have been riding a nice hot-streak since the All-Star break, so it could be interesting to see what this entire team does during the second-half.  (more…)

Entering the season with high-hopes, the A’s subpar first-half has put any hopes for a post-season birth in 2011 to rest. The Athletics have been disappointing to watch offensively, as they will enter Friday’s contest against the Angels with an anemic offense that ranks 28th in batting average (.233), 29th in on-base percentage (.299) and 28th in runs (315).

A’s general manager Billy Beane tried to upgrade the offense this past winter, but his attempts haven’t gotten this team very far. Hideki Matsui, Josh Willingham, and David DeJesus now look like trading chips rather than offensive catalysts for the second-half. (more…)

Can the A's find consistency on offense? (Photo Courtesy of Yardbarker)

The Oakland A’s begin their second-half of the season tonight against the Kansas City Royals. The A’s will send Gio Gonzalez (7-6, 3.79 ERA) to mound, while KC will counter with reigning AL CY Young, Zach Greinke (5-8, 3.71). Oakland’s bats, which have been rather inconsistent during the first-half, will need to get the second-half started on the right foot. Greinke hasn’t been nearly as good as he was last season, but he’s still a very tough opponent to face. 

The A’s closed out the first-half of the season with a series win against a visiting Angels club. Currently the A’s are stuck in 3rd place, 8.0 games behind the Texas Rangers. The Rangers, who have recently acquired ace pitcher, Cliff Lee, will be a tough team to catch—especially now that they’ve added Lee and have injured pitcher (Rich Harden) making their ways back. As for the A’s, the only considerable player that they’ve acquired is injured OF Connor Jackson. Jackson is currently on the A’s 15-day DL, and isn’t the only player the A’s are wanting back. 

The A’s have been without young stud, Brett Anderson, who signed a four-year extension earlier this season. Anderson, who started the season exceptionally well, has been on the DL twice this season—which is not a good sign. The A’s are hoping to have Anderson back relatively soon. Once Anderson rejoins the rotation, the A’s expect to have Dallas Braden back as well. Braden, who threw the MLB’s 19th perfect game, was placed on the 15-day DL due to ‘elbow tendinitis.’ According to reports, Braden was unable to throw his slider (or breaking balls), and was placed on the DL as a prevention from further injury. 

Once the A’s get Anderson and Braden back from the DL, the A’s could potentially dangle Ben Sheets (4-8, 4.63 ERA) in front of interested teams (if there are any) in the hopes of acquiring at least one solid prospect. The A’s signed sheets to a one-year, $10 million deal in the offseason, and the deal has yet to make very much sense. Sheets has been performing a little better lately, which could be a sign of a potential turn-around. But once Anderson and Braden rejoin the rotation, Vin Mazzaro (4-2, 3.81 ERA) will need a spot in the rotation. I wouldn’t be surprised if the A’s traded Sheets, simply because the A’s need to give Mazzaro some experience in the majors (he’s dominated in the minors). 

Barring any injuries to either Anderson or Braden, the A’s rotation should be strong enough to keep the team close to a .500 season. If the offense can find some level of consistency, the A’s could have a chance for a winning record and even a shot at the post-season (albeit a very, very slim chance). So, if the A’s can find success on offense (a big IF), they might just have a chance at keeping pace with the Lee-led Rangers.