Try this: the A’s are ready to deal Andrew Bailey and are willing to take prospects. To make it interesting, let’s add Gio Gonzalez to the deal. A’s need young 3b, young C and a mobile, LH, 1b who can play D, and an OF who can score some runs. Thus: Bailey and Gonzalez for 3b Will Middlebrooks C Luis Exposito (AAA) or Varitek 1b Lars Anderson OF Ryan Kalish

REDs are intersted in Gio Gonzalez and Andrew Bailey; Gio would give them a #1 slot SP and Bailey would give then a proven MLB closer. The A’s need offense and have some holes to fill in the OF, 3b, 1b. Alonso fills the 1b slot; hits lefty, where Carter and Allen hit and either could wind up in the OF or as DH. Super Sub Todd Frazier is MLB-ready for 3b-SS-2b and OF. The A’s would need one more player in the deal: 5-tool OF: Yorman Rodriguez Rank: 4 Dayton Dragons (A) ETA: 2014 Position: OF Age: 19, DOB: 08/15/1992 Bats: R, Throws: R Signed: Aug. 15, 2008 There may not be a more dynamic duo than Billy Hamilton and this teenage outfielder. Rodriguez has all the tools you could ask for, and he’s just figuring out how to use them. He also thrives with runners in scoring position, hitting .329 with a .407 OBP in 2011. When all is said and done, he could be the prototypical five-tool right fielder. or a pitcher: Brad Boxberger Rank: 6 Phoenix Desert Dogs ETA: 2012 Position: RHP Age: 23, DOB: 05/27/1988 Bats: R, Throws: R Drafted: 2009, 1st (43) When Boxberger came out of the University of Southern California in 2009, there were questions about whether he’d be a starter or reliever, long-term. Those appear to have been answered after an up-and-down 2010 that saw him start and relieve. Now, however, he’s a reliever, with the power arm that works well in short relief, even if he has the arsenal to be a starter. He worked out of the ‘pen back in Double-A in 2011, then earned a bump up to Triple-A at the end of June and continued to work as a reliever. OR Donnie Joseph Rank: 10 Pensacola Blue Wahoos (AA) ETA: 2012 Position: LHP Age: 24, DOB: 11/01/1987 Bats: L, Throws: L Drafted: 2009, 3rd (88) A 2009 third-rounder out of the University of Houston, Joseph moved very quickly in his first full season, pitching at three levels. Along the way, he topped the system with 24 saves and had a 2.08 ERA and .182 batting average against. He also had an eye-popping 14.27 K/9 ratio. He’s had some command issues leading to a 3.6 BB/9 ratio heading into 2011, but they’ve improved and aren’t a big concern when he’s pitching in short relief stints. He might not be a closer in the big leagues — and he got off to a rough start back in Double-A last year — but he’s got the chance to be a very good setup man in the near future. He pitched very well in the offense-heavy Arizona Fall League to close out his year.

Try this: the A’s are ready to deal Andrew Bailey and are willing to take prospects. To make it interesting, let’s add Gio Gonzalez to the deal. A’s need young 3b, young C and a mobile, LH, 1b who can play D, and an OF who can score some runs. Thus: Bailey and Gonzalez for 3b Will Middlebrooks C Luis Exposito (AAA) or Varitek 1b Lars Anderson OF Ryan Kalish

REDs are intersted in Gio Gonzalez and Andrew Bailey; Gio would give them a #1 slot SP and Bailey would give then a proven MLB closer. The A’s need offense and have some holes to fill in the OF, 3b, 1b. Alonso fills the 1b slot; hits lefty, where Carter and Allen hit and either could wind up in the OF or as DH. Super Sub Todd Frazier is MLB-ready for 3b-SS-2b and OF. The A’s would need one more player in the deal: 5-tool OF: Yorman Rodriguez Rank: 4 Dayton Dragons (A) ETA: 2014 Position: OF Age: 19, DOB: 08/15/1992 Bats: R, Throws: R Signed: Aug. 15, 2008 There may not be a more dynamic duo than Billy Hamilton and this teenage outfielder. Rodriguez has all the tools you could ask for, and he’s just figuring out how to use them. He also thrives with runners in scoring position, hitting .329 with a .407 OBP in 2011. When all is said and done, he could be the prototypical five-tool right fielder. or a pitcher: Brad Boxberger Rank: 6 Phoenix Desert Dogs ETA: 2012 Position: RHP Age: 23, DOB: 05/27/1988 Bats: R, Throws: R Drafted: 2009, 1st (43) When Boxberger came out of the University of Southern California in 2009, there were questions about whether he’d be a starter or reliever, long-term. Those appear to have been answered after an up-and-down 2010 that saw him start and relieve. Now, however, he’s a reliever, with the power arm that works well in short relief, even if he has the arsenal to be a starter. He worked out of the ‘pen back in Double-A in 2011, then earned a bump up to Triple-A at the end of June and continued to work as a reliever. OR Donnie Joseph Rank: 10 Pensacola Blue Wahoos (AA) ETA: 2012 Position: LHP Age: 24, DOB: 11/01/1987 Bats: L, Throws: L Drafted: 2009, 3rd (88) A 2009 third-rounder out of the University of Houston, Joseph moved very quickly in his first full season, pitching at three levels. Along the way, he topped the system with 24 saves and had a 2.08 ERA and .182 batting average against. He also had an eye-popping 14.27 K/9 ratio. He’s had some command issues leading to a 3.6 BB/9 ratio heading into 2011, but they’ve improved and aren’t a big concern when he’s pitching in short relief stints. He might not be a closer in the big leagues — and he got off to a rough start back in Double-A last year — but he’s got the chance to be a very good setup man in the near future. He pitched very well in the offense-heavy Arizona Fall League to close out his year.

To me, it makes sense for the Jays to try for both Bailey AND Gio Gonzalez. The latter has only allowed 17 hits in 31 IP at Rogers centre, where he also holds a very nice 0.949 whip and a .148 BAA. The cost may be steep, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from watching Alex work it’s that he’s aiming high and would rather do so without breaking the bank. Adding these 2 pitchers may cost the Jays a ton of prospects/players, but it won’t break the bank. Both will make minimal salaries as they get into their initial arbitration years, so that option may be more appealing than throwing a ton of money at Yu Darvish, for example. Gonzalez is a much better option than any other FA pitcher, imo, and he could take a nice role behind Ricky Romero and Brandon Morrow, giving the Jays a nice trio of LHP/RHP/LHP at the top of the rotation.

It wouldn’t be cheap at all in terms of prospects going Oakland’s way, but the Jays have some very attractive catching prospects, OF prospects, and young pitching prospects that would surely be very enticing to Oakland.

One option I can foresee happening is that Colby Rasmus be included in a deal to Oakland if need be. The Jays are all but set to give Anthony Gose a look in CF within the next year, and we know that Jake Marisnick lurks closely behind him. A package centred around him could work.

I really do believe that if the Jays don’t deal for Gio, the Yankees or Red Sox might do so, which would really hurt the Jays instead of help them along. They could still target Bailey alone, but my gut tells me that if they do deal for Bailey, they’ll try as hard as they can to land Gio as well.

Food for thought!

Using our “plethora of pretty prospects” (PPP for short) to OVERPAY (a bit) to get an EXACT missing piece; one who is young, talented and controllable – like Bailey. Like Bailey? As a matter of fact I LOVE Bailey’s over chocolate ice cream, the perfect parfait.

To me, it makes sense for the Jays to try for both Bailey AND Gio Gonzalez. The latter has only allowed 17 hits in 31 IP at Rogers centre, where he also holds a very nice 0.949 whip and a .148 BAA. The cost may be steep, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from watching Alex work it’s that he’s aiming high and would rather do so without breaking the bank. Adding these 2 pitchers may cost the Jays a ton of prospects/players, but it won’t break the bank. Both will make minimal salaries as they get into their initial arbitration years, so that option may be more appealing than throwing a ton of money at Yu Darvish, for example. Gonzalez is a much better option than any other FA pitcher, imo, and he could take a nice role behind Ricky Romero and Brandon Morrow, giving the Jays a nice trio of LHP/RHP/LHP at the top of the rotation.

It wouldn’t be cheap at all in terms of prospects going Oakland’s way, but the Jays have some very attractive catching prospects, OF prospects, and young pitching prospects that would surely be very enticing to Oakland.

One option I can foresee happening is that Colby Rasmus be included in a deal to Oakland if need be. The Jays are all but set to give Anthony Gose a look in CF within the next year, and we know that Jake Marisnick lurks closely behind him. A package centred around him could work.

I really do believe that if the Jays don’t deal for Gio, the Yankees or Red Sox might do so, which would really hurt the Jays instead of help them along. They could still target Bailey alone, but my gut tells me that if they do deal for Bailey, they’ll try as hard as they can to land Gio as well.

Food for thought!

Using our “plethora of pretty prospects” (PPP for short) to OVERPAY (a bit) to get an EXACT missing piece; one who is young, talented and controllable – like Bailey. Like Bailey? As a matter of fact I LOVE Bailey’s over chocolate ice cream, the perfect parfait.