Rendon Returns

Post date: Jun 10, 2014 4:25:58 PM

A's welcome back 2009 1st round Minors Draft pick Anthony Rendon to the organization in blockbuster with Boston

The wheeling and dealing continues down on Delaware Avenue at the Athletics Complex. GM Matt Veasey continued to supply new manager Joe Maddon with a host of new players, this time completing a blockbuster with another division rival. After not consummating a trade with Boston for five years, the two clubs completed their 2nd major deal in weeks, as the A's send major Winter Meetings acquisition closers Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman to the Bulldogs.

In exchange, coming from Boston is a package of players and draft picks that is highlighted by the return of the Athletics own 2009 1st round Minors Draft pick, infielder Anthony Rendon, who can play both 2nd and 3rd base. Also coming in the deal was power-hitting catcher Evan Gattis, who qualifies in the outfield and is likely to play there until some of the injured regulars return.

The A's also received a pair of arms, starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi and closer Casey Janssen. Along with this pair, who will become regular options now, the A's added three draft choices: 2MiDE14, 3MiPH15 and 1DrBO15. The Detroit pick for next month is the 19th overall selection. The club's own pick being returned for the 2015 Minors Draft should fall within the 1st or Supplemental choices of the MLB Draft, which will see even more draftees made available to the WFBL next season. The Boston '15 Majors Draft pick gives the A's a selection where they had none.

"We paid a hefty price to a division rival" said Veasey, "but that's obviously not something we're afraid to do when the deal is right. With Joe Maddon, we've changed our organizational emphasis, and the package we received largely reflects that change. Anthony Rendon is going to continue to develop much as we projected when we first drafted him here: an elite-level bat in the infield, something always valued. Gattis is a true power-hitting catcher who can help us right now in the short term as an outfielder. Eovaldi is a quality young arm to stretch out our rotation. Adding Janssen back keeps the club with three closers at the RP position."

Asked how the new players will fit in, Maddon was typically non-committal. "All these guys are good players, and all of them are going to play. We'll mix and match based on who is healthy and available, and who is producing." In the short term, he was a bit more direct: "For now, with the way the club has been banged up, we're probably looking to get Gattis' bat into the mix in the outfield. With Rendon, it just depends on whether we do anything else, and how the Machado thing plays out. Janssen goes in as a closer, while Eovaldi will be evaluated based on matchups."

The "anything else" that could play out may involve a trade of veteran 2nd baseman Chase Utley, having a strong season. The "Machado thing" involves some recent discipline issues that the club is working on with the talented young 3rd sacker. The GM does not appear ready to rest his hand just yet, and another deal or two could come down at any time for this club in the midst of a major in-season renovation driven partly by a shift in organizational thinking, but also by injuries and the desire to remain relevant in the short term.