At 2013 Winter Meetings, A's Strike Again

Post date: Jan 2, 2013 2:47:40 PM

Exciting Japanese righthanded starting pitcher Yu Darvish comes east from Portland

Athletics GM Matt Veasey was beginning to wonder if the club was going to pull any deals at all at the 2013 Winter Meetings. With the WFBL's youngest roster and a boatload of strong prospects on the cusp of pushing for playing time over the next couple seasons, a case could be made to stand pat and let that roster grow.

"The biggest change for us, frankly, was Boston" said Veasey in this morning's 9am news conference on the A's New Year's Day acquisition of big 26-year old Japanese righthander Yu Darvish from the Portland Wolfpack in a 6-player mega deal. "When the Dawgs dealt for Hellickson, Volquez and Lackey, especially the first two on top of the strong young pitching they already had, we felt we needed to respond to deepen the top of our rotation. It's the old-fashioned arms race thing."

To get an arm of the youth and quality of Darvish, however, reguired putting together a significant package. "We did not want to deal Ian, but that was the price that Keno Leighty demanded" said Veasey, speaking of the Pack GM.

In the end, the A's shipped breakout shortstop Ian Desmond, closer Joel Hanrahan, starting pitcher Alexi Ogando, and highly-touted prospect pitcher Mark Appel to Portland in exchange for Darvish and former A's captain Derek Jeter.

It is believed through sources that the Pack actually wanted either Desmond or 20-year old Manny Machado, and the A's chose to hold on to the younger of the two. Jeter, coming off an ankle injury, is expected to be ready by the opener or soon thereafter, and to man shortstop for a year or two while Machado continues to develop. Speedy minor leaguer Jean Segura is the club's backup option in case Jeter is not ready to begin the season.

But it is the addition of Darvish to join Cole Hamels, Stephen Strasburg, and Jordan Zimmermann at the top of the Athletics rotation that was the key feature of the deal from their perspective. "We'll match those four guys up against anyone in the league, week in and week out" said manager Buck Showalter after the deal was announced. "Proven, quality, young pitching is easily the toughest thing to obtain in this league. We're blessed to have these guys."

Immediately following the Portland deal, the A's announced a smaller, but important one-for-one swap with Detroit. Young rehabbing righthanded flamethrower Neftali Feliz was shipped to the Drillers in exchange for closer Sergio Romo, who will in effect take over the slot left by the trade of Hanrahan. "That we were able to fill that opening right away really took some pressure off" said Veasey.

Now the A's will move forward to begin shaping the roster for the start of spring training in a little over a month, not likely to make any further major moves, although it would not be a shock to see the club still swing a couple of smaller deals before the Winter Meetings come to a close on January 13th..

Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to the A's winter complex in Spring Hill, Florida on Saturday February 16th and the full squad a week later, although many of the position players will arrive during the week of the 18th. The 2013 regular season will open the first week in April.