Oakland A's Trade Scenarios: 5 A's Most Likely to Be Moved at the Deadline

Is it that time of year already? Bay Area baseball fans have grown to treat the trade deadline as a sort of annual science fair, waiting to see what Beane's latest 'win-on-the-cheap' experiment is conjuring.

Although Beane and the A's haven't earned a playoff berth since 2006, recent successful deals for Josh Reddick and Jarrod Parker have regained some fan support for the front office and they are optimistic about what is to come at this year's July 31 deadline.

Beane has a handful of players with value to barter with this season, but who is most likely on their way out of Oakland? Here a few likely candidates. 

Ryan Cook, RP

Cook looked like an insignificant throw-in in the Trevor Cahill deal last winter but quickly emerged as a force out of the bullpen, posting a mere 0.59 ERA through 29 appearances in 2012.

He usurped the closing roll from the flaky Brian Fuentes last week, and Cook has fared quite well in his new role, converting all of his save opportunities through June 19.

As the trade deadline rolls through Beane must decide whether or not to move Cook for another piece or keep him on the active roster. While Cook has substantial value on the trade market, its difficult to see the A’s parting with their closer midseason with no suitable replacements on the roster.

Cook is a closer in the making, and will have far more value in the offseason should he develop into a go-to ninth inning guy. Beane is infamous for developing the ‘sell-the-closer’ model, and right now Cook’s stock is still rising. It would be wise for the Athletics to hold on to him for a bit longer.

Bartolo Colon, SP

Bartolo Colon has had a solid season with the A’s this season with an ERA of 4.22, but at age 39 and with the A’s likely out of playoff contention the former Cy Young Award winner instantly becomes a trade candidate.

Though a recent strained oblique might cause a few teams to shy away from the aging ace, Colon’s one-year deal makes him a relatively low risk. The A’s likely would ask for middle-tier prospect and/or cash considerations in return for Colon, and could easily call up Tyson Ross to fill his rotation spot for the remainder of the season.

Kurt Suzuki, C

Zuk, as the A’s starting catcher is known to his fans, is in his fourth season in Oakland, making him the longest-tenured Athletic on the active roster. However, Beane has proven throughout his career in the front office that no player is immune to the trade machine and it just might be Suzuki’s time to part ways with the franchise.

The A’s acquired hot catching prospect Derek Norris from the Nationals in the Gio Gonzalez trade last winter, making Suzuki an expendable asset for the Athletics. Norris has yet to prove whether or not he can handle catching in the bigs yet, but the A’s don’t appear to be seriously contenders this season and could opt to give the youngster a half season audition as the club’s starting catcher by dealing Suzuki at the deadline.

To the avail of A’s fans, Suzuki’s poor performance so far this season could prevent him from moving at the deadline. He’s hitting a career low .218 with just a .259 OBP through 206 AB in 2011, deteriorating his value.

Coco Crisp, CF

Now that his Father’s Day Chia pet promotion is out of the way, the A’s seem in the clear to deal Crisp. Lead-off hitters are a valued asset throughout the major leagues, and though Crisp started out the season poorly, he’s heated up with the weather in June hitting .264 with a .361 OBP through 16 games this month.

Crisp signed a one-year deal this offseason, and with Yoenis Cespedes and Josh Reddick emerging as long-term fixtures in the outfield, as well as Colin Cowgill producing as he has this season, Crisp might find himself the odd man out come the trade deadline. Fans will always miss his Oscar Gamble-like afro, but it’s time for the A’s to part way with Coco.

Brandon McCarthy, SP

"McNasty" has been dominant on the hill this season when healthy, and given he signed just a one-year deal last offseason, could be Oakland’s best trade chip at the deadline. The proven ace of the A’s staff, McCarthy ranks third in the AL in ERA, and should he continue to produce at this level, it hard to imagine the low-budget Athletics retaining their top-of-the-rotation starter once his deal expires.

Though minor league prospect Brad Peacock appears to need some more work in Triple-A before assuming his role in the A’s rotation, Oakland could have Tyson Ross fill in the fifth starting spot while Peacock continues to progress through the minors.

While a potential buyer might be see McCarthy’s two trips to the DL this season as a red flag, McCarthy’s outstanding performance this season might give a contender in need of starting pitching (like the Baltimore Orioles) reason to bite come the deadline.