A's GM Has Much Younger Team in Sights

With Beane dealing current players for prospects, no one's safe
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 4, 2008 9:56 AM CST
A's GM Has Much Younger Team in Sights
Oakland Athletics owner Lewis Wolff, right, talks with vice president and general manager Billy Beane during the A's spring training baseball workout in Phoenix, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007. Beane, the architect behind Oakland's four division titles since 2000, was rewarded with a seven-year contract...   (Associated Press)

Oakland general manager Brian Beane is making good on his promise to bring more youth to the A's—and risking some short-term fan alienation—by trading outfielder Nick Swisher to the White Sox for three young prospects. "We're going with the youth movement, baby," A's third baseman Eric Chavez told the Chronicle.

Swisher isn't the only A's star to go, which has made some wonder why Beane is liquidating Oakland's talent pool. Beane points out that "Our status quo going into next season was mediocrity at best," and that to wait too long to rebuild would only hurt the team more. Meanwhile, Barry Bonds rumors continue to swirl in Oakland. (More MLB stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X