Tagged: Billy Beane

Cards-Springer reunion?

Oakland’s big fish is gone, Matt Holliday having been traded to the Cardinals last week. But a recent rumor suggested that the A’s and Cards are talking again, this time about 40-year-old righty reliever Russ Springer, who enjoyed the best two years of his career working for St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa and pitching coach Dave Duncan in 2007-2008.

One of Springer’s best friends on the A’s, fellow righty Michael Wuertz, has seen his name bandied about in a number of ways over the past few weeks, but given the constitution of Oakland’s bullpen, it’ll take a solid return package to prompt A’s GM Billy Beane to surrender his most reliable reliever.

Shortstop Orlando Cabrera is will being mentioned in trade rumors, too, most notable with the Twins, but Cabrera isn’t in any hurry to leave. He’s on a one-year deal with the A’s and seems to be very happy living in the East Bay, and with no clear heir at the position, Oakland might decide to keep and re-sign him as one of the few veterans to anchor what will almost certainly be an extremely young team next season.

–Mychael Urban

7/28 Cubs wait and see

Cubs GM Jim Hendry says he’s been busy talking to other teams, but wasn’t sure if the Cubs will add any players by Friday’s trade deadline. The team should get a “new” player when catcher Geovany Soto returns from his oblique injury sometime in early August. Soto was taking batting practice and expected to get into a game this week. Ted Lilly (inflammation shoulder) also will rejoin the team in mid August. That’s two.

However, the Cubs could use some left-hand help in the bullpen. Sean Marshall is the only southpaw.

“I have no idea if we’ll do anything by Friday,” Hendry said.

The Cubs players have said they feel all the pieces are in place. Hendry appreciated that they feel they’re good enough to three-peat in the NL Central.

“I think they know how we do our business,” Hendry said. “If we find something by Friday, that’s what we’ll do.”

Some long-rumored deals are never consumated. And, Hendry said he’s completed transactions with Oakland GM Billy Beane in five, 10 minutes. Who knows?

“I think some of the best trades we’ve made, I’ve put the least amount of time into them,” Hendry said.

— Carrie Muskat