Spencer-
This was a great move by Oakland, and both teams won in my mind. For the Cubs they get another top young prospect to use in their rebuilding project and get
rid of a star pitcher that was probably going to walk for more money at the years end anyway. Only thing working against them was that it gives them now three top shortstop prospects and obviously only one can play the position. Wouldn't be surprised to see Starlin Castro on one of the teams in New York next season. For the A's though this deal was a statement about the expectations for this team. They want to win a championship and they will do what it takes to do it, NOW. Obviously Addison Russell is a terrific talent and one that fit their mold for stock piling young talent and bringing in the right pieces around them. Acquiring Samardzija and Hammel though gives them two more pitchers to add to the mix with Sonny Gray and Scott Kazmir. It was the first time we saw the Athletics be an aggressor in a trade and I absolutely loved it. This trade favors them in the long run for the rest of the season. It gives them now four starters who can dominate game in and game out. Justin Verlander brought up the point that he saw this as the A's trying to put together a rotation that can run with his own in Detroit and that is an interesting theory. We've seen Oakland fall to Detroit in the playoffs the last couple years and they saw this as a way to get over the hump. I think it gives them the last punch they need to chase a championship so the Tigers and the rest of the league better make necessary moves to compete with them. Ty-
This trade made sense for both teams. The A's get more pitching to help a season that looks very promising at the moment. The Cubs are not very good and it was smart of them to deal Samardzija for something rather than lose him for nothing later. The Cubs got some intriguing prospects that they can hope develope. The A's already have great pitching and are 2nd in the league in ERA but the A's could definitely use another good starting pitcher. The person who has to be the happiest is Jeff Samardzija who goes from a team that seemed to always lack run support to a team that leads the league in runs. The A's might be a team known for moneyball but this deal could be a crucial one that we look back at if the A's win the world seried.
2. With rumors circulating about free agent Carmelo Anthony narrowing his decision down to the Los Angeles Lakers and a return to the New York Knicks where will Anthony actually end up and are his two final choices a surprise?
Ty-
My mind is telling me that he ends up back in New York. But I think he is having a hard time deciding for a reason.
