Oakland Athletics Roundup: Arbitration Values; LF Free Agents; ’73 Championship; Plus, Tye Waller

Oakland Athletics Roundup: Friday, October 16

We all make mistakes. In Billy Beane‘s case, he had an off-season full of them – trading away the Oakland Athletics’ best players and returning with Billy Butler. It was a confusing and disappointing winter, to be sure. But maybe – just maybe – there’s hope for him yet.

If there’s any front office mind that rivals the fame of Beane, it’s Theo Epstein. He’s currently the mastermind behind the Cubs’ success. But he’s made mistakes, too. Most notably, he signed Edwin Jackson to one of the strangest contracts in baseball. Jackson, who has never been more than a mediocre starter, was given a four year, $52 million deal before the start of the 2013 season – and promptly went 8-18, spent some time in the bullpen, and was eventually dumped due to lack of performance.

It was a costly error, but one that proves even the most brilliant baseball people make mistakes. Perhaps Beane’s missteps with Butler will prove to be equally forgivable. After all, Epstein didn’t recover by spending tons of cash on free agents – he simply did everything he could to get the best farm system, then waited on his prospects to turn out. Two years later, he’s reaping the rewards. Maybe Beane is just following in his footsteps.

In Case You Missed It:

Which Arbitration-Eligibile A’s Should Return in 2016? – The A’s have the most arbitration-eligible players in the majors, making them a team to watch when it comes time to non-tender players. Andrew Dambrauskas takes a look at some of the A’s who are up for arbitration, and analyzes which ones are worth their projected value – and which are not.

Five Left Field Free Agent Targets For the A’s – Left field is one of the Oakland Athletics’ biggest weaknesses, at least from an offensive standpoint. Evan Giddings looks at five potential free agent signings for the Athletics, all of whom would be an upgrade.

Oakland Athletics’ 1973 Championship: Let’s Do It Again – The A’s clinched the World Series in 1973, in one of the best years in franchise history. Rich Paloma takes us back, reliving the nostalgia of the Championship series against the New York Mets.

A’s Fire First Base Coach Tye Waller – Samantha Riley takes a look at the firing of veteran first base coach Tye Waller, who was let go by the Athletics in a rare mid-postseason move. What happened, and who will replace him? Be sure to check it out.

#Athletics:

Around the Web:

San Jose Mercury News: Billy Beane Among East Bay’s Biggest Excess Water Users – The San Jose Mercury News reports that Billy Beane is using a lot of water. In fact, only two households in the East Bay Municipal Utility District used more than his average of 5,996 gallons per day – with the average household using 250 gallons per day. EBM slapped him with a well-deserved excess-use fine.

Next: Roundtable Debate: Who Should the A's Eliminate From the Roster?