Stras, Wieters Dealt as Changes Continue

Post date: May 21, 2014 3:45:27 PM

Lefties Scott Kazmir (L) and David Price (R) joined the club as major rotation changes continued

Less than a week after trading away Jordan Zimmermann and Mike Minor, and just days after making a managerial change, the massive changes within the player roster of the Philadelphia Athletics continued on Tuesday. This time it was former ace starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg and captain/catcher Matt Wieters being shipped out in separate trades that ulitmately yielded a pair of talented veteran lefties for that pitching rotation in David Price and Scott Kazmir.

First, GM Matt Veasey dealt Strasburg, the A's 1st round 2008 Minors Draft pick, to division rival Boston in exchange for Price and a 2nd round Minors pick this year. Next, Veasey sent Wieters along with minor league arm Connor Jones out to Omaha in exchange for a pair of Minors picks in 2015, the Royals 1st rounder and the return of the A's own 2nd rounder. Finally, late Tuesday night he agreed to send highly rated catching prospect Andrew Susac out to Portland in exchange for the former Athletics hurler Kazmir.

All in all, it has been a dizzying week for the franchise, as the team tries to halt the losing skid that has seen their record fall to 2-4-1 with five consecutive non-winning games and four straight losses. Veasey hinted that the dealing is likely done for now, but would not close the door on more potential moves. "We're always looking at ways to improve the club" said the GM. "I'll never say that we're done, but we need a break to let things settle down here, and to give Joe a chance to start working with the new pieces."

The new-look starting rotation will feature holdover Yu Darvish, who is now joined by the just-activated Alex Cobb, the recently acquired trio of Justin Verlander, Marco Estrada, and Kyle Gibson along with Price, Kazmir, Gerrit Cole, and Ian Kennedy. Young Chase Anderson and veteran Roberto Hernandez remain around for depth purposes, while it is also expected that Alex Wood will return to the rotation at some point. And the team got a further boost this week when top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy resumed pitching in games. It is hoped that he can return to the big club by the All-Star break.

"We wanted to bring in guys who were not only talented and experienced, but also who had a proven history of health. Guys who have shown over time that they can and will take the ball game after game, week after week, season after season" said Veasey. "Each of these pitchers the we've brought in has that proven track record. And none are rentals. We anticipate building around this core for the immediate future of the team."

Tyler Flowers now assumes the starting catcher role, replacing Wieters, who had been the starter even since being obtained via trade prior to the 2010 season. The A's did not immediately name a new captain, but Maddon addressed that issue. "We'll let it go a bit, and then at some point later in the summer, we'll have the players all decide together if they want to name someone to that role."

With the earlier release of legendary shortstop Derek Jeter, who just signed with Saint Louis, and these deals involving Wieters, Strasburg, Zimmermann and Minor, the GM was clearly doing some major housecleaning. "We needed a shakeup. That was my call. I appreciate the fans attachment to some players, but I felt these moves will help us to do what they really want us to do more than anything, and that is to win."