- Kyle Lohse - While he should get a few pretty big offers, I am not sold on that school of thought. I do think that he would be a great innings eater and locker room leader for Oakland. He has struggled during his career to keep the ball in the park, but the younger guys on the team could see how he has persevered and learn from that.
- Mike Lamb - The veteran third baseman had a nice year with the Astros last season. His OBP and Slugging are good enough to warrant a one-year contract with a team option for a second. He played 124 games last year, so he could serve as a fill-in or an everyday player.
- Kerry Wood - I know the likelihood of this happening is slim to none, but I would like to see Oakland take a "chance" on the oft-injured pitcher. He could serve as a set-up man for Huston Street or come in as an emergency starter.
- Marcus Giles - With the addition of Giles, Oakland's infield defense becomes immediately better. With Mark Ellis signing an extension this off season, Oakland would have the freedom to try and move Bobby Crosby with Marco Scutaro/Ellis/Giles/Jack Hannahan being the main middle infielders and, in a pinch, replacing Eric Chavez at third.
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Comments
Marcus Giles? For real? I don't think you want that guy. Didn't Ellis nearly win the Gold Glove at second this past year? It would be tough to move Crosby at this point.
JJ-
I agree that he isn't worth a big contract. But who else is out there to get the money?
Jack-
I do want Giles. I want a guy that had a 98.7% fielding percentage to add to my team and I want a guy that is a career .277 hitter with an OPS of .782. And, with his one poor year in a pitcher's ballpark, I would take him over several other players out there.
I'm pretty sure you'll be able to get Giles for peanuts as he was waived by the Pads. His stat line, and history, screams PED's. I'm not sure where you would play him unless Ellis moved to SS but then what do you do with Crosby?
I would want Ellis to stay at second. Like you said, he was close to winning a gold glove. I would put Giles/Scutaro at short and then have Giles fill in for Ellis on his off days. Scutaro could also play some third, with Giles at short, Ellis at second, Barton at first and that lets Chavez DH and stay a little more healthy for the whole season.
At this point, I would take anything for Crosby. When he was coming up, I could've led the town off the cliff if they followed me, he had so much potential. He still has a lot, but I don't think Oakland is going to see it.
0. That's the number of games Giles has played at short in his baseball career...including the minors. You don't just switch a guy over like that, especially when he's this close to thirty, and expect him to even be an average fielder.
The answer, if you really want Giles, is to move Ellis to short (where played in the minors) and have Giles play second.
I think there are better options out there than Giles if they move Ellis over.
Kyle Lohse is demanding way too much money for a guy with a record of 63-74 who gives up a lot of long balls.
If the Phillies thought he was too expensive, I doubt the A's would waste the money to sign him.
To his credit, he is an innings eater. You could get 200 innings a year out of him, if he stays healthy. But I think Billy will spend his money more wisely.