Oakland A’s need division tax in any trades
By David Hill
Plenty of words have been typed and ink has been spilled about the Oakland A’s expected fire sale. Everyone knows that Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, the majority of the rotation, and anyone who is making more than the change in the couch cushions is on the trade block. It is a matter of when, not if, these deals happen.
There has been no shortage of suitors for the A’s players. This includes within the AL West, as the Rangers have pursued Matt Olson and the Mariners have displayed interest in all of the top players that could be sent away.
Oakland A’s need extra in inter-division trade
This poses a problem. The A’s are going to get the best package possible for any of the players they send away, even if that involves that trade being within the division. But any such trade would involve the A’s facing their former teammate 19 times a year, a reminder of what could have been.
It is part of why trades within a division are rare. The A’s would not want to face Olson or Chris Bassitt as a member of the Mariners for instance. While they know that player, that player also knows them.
For that A’s, it may not be that simple. They have to get the best package for their stars during the upcoming rebuilding process, no matter which team is offering. But they can make it clear that a trade within the division would cost a bit more – a division tax if you will.
This is not an unheard of concept. Teams ask for more when a trade includes a division rival. And the A’s have been willing to make those trades in the past, especially with the Rangers in recent times. Those deals could continue in the near future.
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The Oakland A’s have not been shy about trading in their own division. However, if they are going to this year, they need to get a bit more.