Oakland’s veteran reliever posted a 2.47 ERA in 62 appearances this season. He also recorded 59 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched this year as well. The A’s signed Balfour to a two-year deal prior to the start of the season, and so far, the deal looks like a home run for Oakland. The contract also includes an option for 2013.

In Balfour, the A’s have a solid veteran reliever who has a nice track record filled with success. The bullpen, like the team’s starting rotation, is an integral part of the organization’s success. Balfour is a guy who you can send out in eighth or ninth inning with the full confidence that he’ll get the job done.

He enjoyed a little more success at home this season, compiling a 1.80 ERA at home versus a 3.33 ERA on the road. The A’s, however, are probably satisfied with the job Balfour did overall this year. The A’s spent $8.1 million on him but, he’s certainly proved, with his numbers this year, that he was worth the investment.

The A's young right-hander Trevor Cahill might be running out of luck this season...(Photo Credit: AP)

Remember last season when Trevor Cahill posted an 18-8 record to go along with a nifty 2.97 ERA and his skeptics pointed to Cahill’s low .238 BABIP and considered his 2010 season as a product of luck?

Well it turns out that they may have been right.

This season, the young righty is having a little trouble replicating the type of success that carried him into Cy Young talk during the 2010 season. The A’s have seen Cahill go 9-10 so far this season, and as of Wednesday, Cahill owns a 3.91 ERA through 24 starts this season.

He started the season in stellar fashion, going 6-0 with a 1.72 ERA in his first eight starts this year. Since then, however, Cahill is 3-10.  (more…)

Remember this deal? Billy Beane better do a better job this winter addressing the A's offense... (Photo Courtesy of yardbarker.com)

The Oakland A’s have a couple of player options to deal with this winter, but more importantly, they have the opportunity to address their anemic offense this winter. The A’s are expected to have over $20 million to spend this winter after they dump Ben Sheets‘ $10 million contract and decline Eric Chavez’s $12 million option for 2011. While A’s owner Lew Wolff has said in the past that he does not expect the team to make any surprising moves this winter, it’s difficult to imagine a completely quiet winter this year for Oakland.

This has to be one of Billy Beane’s most crucial winters in his tenure with the A’s. Think about it. The A’s laid out the foundation for a new version of the “Big Three” with Brett Anderson, Trevor Cahill, and Gio Gonzalez. The original “Big Three” in Oakland consisted of pitchers Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Barry Zito. While the original may bring back memories of Oakland’s winning history in the early 2000′s, the new trio is poised to make some noise next year.

Beane’s job is to address the offense, not pitching. The A’s are in great shape in the pitching department, which is something very few teams can say heading into the offseason. The A’s offense, however, is cause for concern. The A’s do have a couple prospect that are on the rise (Chris Carter, Michael Taylor, etc.), but the A’s are going to need more than a couple of ‘prospects’ if they want to win the west next season.

While the $20-plus million figure the A’s have to spend this winter might not be able to land a guy like Carl Crawford, but the A’s have got to do something with that money. Wolff insists that beyond next year, the A’s will not have much financial flexibility, which is a reason why he thinks there will be very limited action this year in the free agent market.

Another source for obtaining offense would be through trade. The A’s have plenty of trade bait, most notably in Vin Mazzaro. The A’s have four set players for next year’s rotation (Braden, Anderson, Cahill, Gonzalez), but the fifth spot remains up in the air. The A’s could very well include Mazzaro in a package deal while trying to land a big bat for the offense.

The A’s have money this winter, and have some players to include in some trades, but it’s up to Beane and Co. to pull the trigger on these things. The A’s have to improve their offense this winter. Doing nothing is NOT an option.

The A’s are expected, or at least according to ESPN.com, to pick up the options for OF Coco Crisp, and 2B Mark Ellis. Crisp was injured for a majority of the season, while Ellis has had his share of injuries throughout his career. However, as ESPN notes, just because the A’s pick up the options for both players, that does not necessarily mean the team plans on keeping them around for 2011. Either player could be offered in a potential trade this winter. This is definitely something to keep an eye on.

The A’s long-time pitching coach, Curt Young declined to return next season with Oakland. The A’s offered him a raise and a one-year deal, but he decided to look for other opportunities within the league. According to ESPN.com, the Boston Red Sox are in talks with Young.