Cabrera Now An Athletic as Roster Shuffle Continues

Post date: May 28, 2014 2:32:02 PM

The best hitter on the planet, Miguel Cabrera, joins the A's in yet another blockbuster deal

The remake of the Philadelphia Athletics roster continued this week with more major trading from GM Matt Veasey, none more substantive than a deal with current week opponent Joplin. The A's acquired the man universally acknowledged as the best hitter on the planet in Miguel Cabrera along with three 1st round Minors Draft picks over the next couple years in exchange for Freddie Freeman, Marco Estrada, and Dylan Bundy. Miggy will move from 3rd base, where he still qualifies for the rest of the current 2014 season and had been playing in Joplin, to man the 1st base position in Philly.

The A's GM followed that up with a deal for starting pitcher Nick Tepesch, who immediately was inserted into the starting rotation against Joplin in what is scheduled to be a 2-start week for the rookie righthander. He came from Omaha in exchange for minor league pitcher Vince Velasquez and a pair of 2nd round Minors picks. At the same time, the club announced the signing of outfielder A.J. Pollock and relief pitcher Chris Withrow. The former was inserted into the starting lineup in left field, while the latter was assigned to AAA Wildwood.

Finally, for now, the GM sent recently acquired starting pitcher Justin Verlander and starter Ian Kennedy to division rival Brantford along with a 2nd round Minors pick. In exchange the A's received outfielder Michael Cuddyer, who will become the starting right fielder until Bryce Harper returns from injury. They also acquired young catcher Mike Zunino, who should now become the club's catcher of both the present and future. Finally, the A's also acquired the #1 overall pick in the upcoming 2014 Minors Draft.

All in all it has been a dizzying 2-3 week period of roster turnover here in the City of Brotherly Love. When asked if this was it for trading for awhile, Veasey was typically non-committal: "This fan base comes out in droves, buys tickets, buys merchandise, tunes in on TV and to our radio broadcasts, supports our sponsors, and has shown their love and commitment to this franchise. They deserve nothing more than our best to put a winning product on the field. Every move we make is to that end. If I see something else that I think will help accomplish that goal, it will get done."

When asked about the ideas of 'direction' and the fans relationship with the players, Veasey was also blunt: "nothing has changed, except perhaps in our approach to the starting pitching position" said the GM. "Our hitting has been atrocious. Miguel Cabrera and Michael Cuddyer should be huge additions to improving that deficiency, and the fans are going to love having them. As for the young core, it's still here in Trout, Harper, Machado, Owings. Now you can add Zunino to that group, Buxton in the minors."

"On our pitching staff, David Price and Scott Kazmir are proven veterans still in their prime, still winners, and we expect that the fans will love having them as well to lead the rotation going forward. Yu Darvish, Cobb, Cole in the rotation. Alex Wood, who we still feel will ultimately be a rotation contributor, our outstanding bullpen. There is plenty of great young talent still here."