Oakland Athletics Roundup: Danny Valencia Shines – Plus, Potential GM Changes?
Oakland Athletics Roundup: Saturday, October 3
The Oakland Athletics picked Danny Valencia up off of the scrap heap, claiming him off waivers after the Toronto Blue Jays let him go earlier this season. He’s been a valuable addition to the A’s lineup, and Friday night was no exception. Valencia went 3-for-4, with a two-run home run. He fell at triple shy of the cycle, and proved once again why he belongs with this team.
The A’s utility man, who can play first, second and third base as well as the outfield, will be up for arbitration this winter. While he will ultimately be due for a raise, there are plenty of reasons to keep Valencia around. This season, he’s batted .292/.346/.518, smashed 17 home runs and knocked in 63 RBIs. He’s accomplished all of this in just 336 at-bats, so what would he be able to do in a full season? It’s definitely worth the gamble.
In Case You Missed It:
Will David Forst Be the A’s GM in 2016? – The expectation for next season is that the A’s organization will promote Billy Beane to a more lofty title, and right-hand man David Forst will become the GM. Samantha Riley explains who the A’s (probable) next general manager is, and what this means for the team.
Stadium Update: San Jose Lawsuit Ruling – Earlier this week, Andrew Dambrauskas wrote about San Jose’s legal battle to challenge Major League Baseball’s anti-trust exemption, as part of their ongoing fight to move the A’s out of Oakland. Since then, the Supreme Court has determined that they will not hear the case – a positive step towards keeping the team in Oakland.
A Look Back at the 2014 Wild Card Game – Feeling nostalgic as the season comes to a close? Katrina Putnam took a look at last year’s fleeting trip to the postseason, via a collection of September 30, 2014 tweets.
A Reliable Asset, Like Chris Bassitt – Finally, Casey Witt examined Chris Bassitt’s 2015 season. Should he be in the rotation next year, or has he failed to earn the job?
#Athletics:
#Athletics doctors have recommended Drew Pomeranz have a clavicle resection. He would need only about 6 weeks recovery time.
— Susan Slusser (@susanslusser) October 3, 2015
Share a fist pump with a friend and celebrate @Eck43's birthday! Happy Birthday Eck! pic.twitter.com/phxfOB1KmP
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) October 3, 2015
Around the Web:
Grading on the Curve: The Case for Keeping Sonny Gray – GOTC breaks down why there’s virtually no chance that the A’s would try to deal their ace this off-season, regardless of the haul it might bring.
FanSided: One Move Each Team Should Make This Winter – FanSided discusses which off-season acquisition could be most beneficial for each team. Who did they pick for the A’s?