Good News on the Giambi Market

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 26, 2008 8:23 AM EST

When you put together a list of suitors for Giambi, Oakland jumps to the top of teams who might be in the market for a first baseman or DH. Toronto as well, but they seem more interested in Milton Bradley than Giambi. There seems to be some potentially good news on our end, as this comes from Ken Rosenthal:

The A's have requested and received the medical records of Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson, who underwent season-ending wrist surgery last June.

Johnson figures to come cheap, since the Nationals acquired Josh Willingham to play first base, and would leave the Athletics with Jack Cust at DH, Johnson/Daric Barton at first, and an outfield swamped with useful parts. That also likely means one less potential suitor for Giambi, who could see his price drop right into our range.

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OT, but RJ, did you see this? wOBA is mainstream now

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3726714&searchName=Neyer_Rob&campaign=rsssrch&source=neyer_rob

by walkoffwalk on Nov 26, 2008 8:35 AM EST reply actions

Excellent.

by R.J. Anderson on Nov 26, 2008 1:13 PM EST up reply actions

can we have gold thong night at the Trop?

Rays 2009 Slogan: "Come back with your shield or on it"

by PriceMultiCyYoungs on Nov 26, 2008 8:42 AM EST reply actions

Giambi's bat...

WOuld be a huge addition to the Rays lineup. Let’s hope Andrew can pull this one off.

by td32 on Nov 26, 2008 9:28 AM EST reply actions

But knowing how many dumb GMs are out there

Some club that makes no sense whatsoever will jump into the bidding with the thoughts of playing Giambi at 1B full-time again.

Also, Jack Cust has played a lot of LF, and considering the A’s have traded away quite a bit of their outfield, I don’t think they’d hesitate to use him there (as of today, their other outfield options are Ryan Sweeney (who probably inherits center from Gonzalez), Travis Buck (who struggled last year), Rajai Davis (80 OPS) and Aaron Cunningham (minor leaguer who’s probably not quite ready yet anyway). Getting Johnson could easily just push Barton to the bench.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Nov 26, 2008 10:23 AM EST reply actions

Holliday? Murton? Etc.

by RATW on Nov 26, 2008 10:45 AM EST up reply actions

Forgot about Holliday

Murton’s not pushing anyone anywhere most likely.

Vogt early, Vogt often.

by Brickhaus on Nov 26, 2008 6:55 PM EST up reply actions

Johnson should push Barton to the bench

I’d think that something along the lines of Holliday/Sweeney/and then Cunningham, Murton, Buck, Denorfia, etc., taking care of RF. Some combination of those guys should pull it off, either individually or in a platoon. Rajai Davis would probably be back in some capacity as a pinch runner/defensive sub, ala Nando.

I still don’t see why Cust wouldn’t DH. He’s not Raul Ibanez/Bobby Abreu bad in the field, but he needs to stay a DH, with the exception of giving Johnson a few ABs at DH once in a while or if Barton really merits a callup (he’d probably start the season in AAA, coming up if Johnson gets hurt).

Agreed with you on the dumb GMs though. If Nick Johnson is traded, I could see the Nats diving into the Giambi market and being the dumb team. Jim Bowden is interesting. And you can NEVER forget about the Giants. Giambi has Brian Sabean written all over him.

I know that's a pisser, baby.

by Blicks on Nov 26, 2008 11:31 AM EST up reply actions