Jul 18 2008
Oakland Athletics GM Billy Beane Continues to Pillage Farm Systems
Billy Beane pulled another rabbit out of the hat Thursday, trading beleagured SP Joe Blanton (5-12, 4.96 era) to the Philadelphia Phillies for three minor leaguers. While Blanton is the only player that most casual fans will have heard of, the three minor leaguers involved in the deal are legitimate prospects, and the general consensus in the prospecting community is that the Phillies got fleeced.
The key player in the deal going to Oakland is second baseman Adrian Cardenas. Cardenas, only 20 years old, has hit a combined .303 at three levels over just over two seasons in the minor leagues. He is considered by some a future all star and certainly is a player that Oakland fans should expect to see in the next couple of years. He was ranked second best prospect in the Philadelphia system by Baseball America in the preseason.
LHP Josh Outman is also a fine young pitcher expected to rise quickly through the system. Starting with the Dan Haren trade the A’s have taken an average system and turned it into a farm system rivaled only by the Rays and Red Sox. Things are certainly looking good for the team in 2009, and even better in 2010. Should they open up a new ballpark in Fremont one could reasonably expect them to replicate the same type of resurgence that Tampa is having this season.
UPDATE:
The Giants signed 16-year-old outfielder Rafael Rodriguez, a highly regarded prospect from the Dominican Republic, to a $2.55 million bonus, the largest ever given in franchise history to an amateur player. See here for more details about this signing.
