The Deals Billy Beane Needs to Be Pitching at the Winter Meetings

It's the Christmas season for normal people, but baseball fans get more excited this time of year for the winter meetings. We put our general manager hats on, pretend we're Billy Beane and make a wish.

Of course, you have to distinguish between what Beane should, could and will do.

It seems obvious at this point Beane will do whatever he wants and could probably do anything; the man is that crafty.

But hey, let's put that Santa, er, Beane hat on and create a wish list for the Oakland A's GM.

Here are a few trades Beane should pitch at the winter meetings to keep the team competitive for 2015.

Jeff Samardzija for Alexei Ramirez and 1 More

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There's been murmurs of a possible deal between Oakland and the Chicago White Sox as recently as Nov. 29.

Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune says the White Sox are interested but think the price would be too high. If I'm Beane, I make something work. After all, the Blue Jays thought the price of Brett Lawrie and three prospects was too high once, and they came around in the trade for Josh Donaldson.

The White Sox are like the A's—they may be able to compete now but also don't want to hurt their farm.

Samardzija would fill a need at right-handed starting pitching, and Chicago could deal Ramirez while holding on to prospect Tim Anderson. Of course, from an A's perspective, Oakland would need at least one more prospect to be included at the minimum and probably some cash to help with the $20 million left owed to Ramirez. (2016 is a $10 million club option).

The A's get the shortstop they need. The White Sox get a starting pitcher without having to spend boatloads on the free-agent market.

Hopefully, this trade is revisited.

Jeff Samardzija for Yoenis Cespedes and a Shortstop

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The Red Sox want a big-name starting pitcher. They also want to get rid of Cespedes. They also have an abundance of shortstops and third basemen. Oakland needs a shortstop. It also needs a left fielder. The lineup could use some power.

How does this not make sense for both sides?

Boston would add a top-of-the-order starter to the mix of Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly, clearly a rotation that could use a Shark. The move would also allow the Red Sox to hold onto Samardzija for two seasons and allow them to sign an additional starting pitcher off the free-agent market.

The A's reacquire Cespedes, a fan favorite who knows O.Co's layout for defensive purposes.

And if he doesn't work out, the A's are off the hook after 2015. Cespedes is a free agent after one more season.

Additionally, the Red Sox could send a shortstop in the deal.

Xander Bogaerts is ideal, but with Hanley Ramirez slated for left field, the Red Sox may want to hang on to him. Deven Marrero, a top-10 prospect, could be a nice addition instead. Brock Holt may also work as a last resort but is not quite ideal (not a true shortstop).

For Bogaerts to be included, the A's might need to include one prospect to make it an even two-for-two deal.

A Deal with the Tampa Bay Rays

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I'm not specific here because there are multiple trades that could work.

The best trade would involve Ben Zobrist coming to the A's, but it's also the steepest in terms of what the A's would need to give up. For Zobrist, the A's might have to send a starter and a high-level prospect or two mid-level prospects.

The A's were once interested in Yunel Escobar at shortstop. They also could use a left fielder.

Could an Escobar and Matt Joyce for Brandon Moss and John Jaso trade work?

The Rays would need to find a shortstop, but they could plug Moss into left field immediately or put David DeJesus in the spot and DH Moss. Either way, they're adding power to their lineup with Moss and Jaso. The A's in turn fill two needs with the trade.

Are Moss and Jaso too steep a price to pay?

Moss and a mid-level prospect might work instead.

The Rays and A's are built the same, and both are currently on the cusp of competing within their respective divisions. Oakland gets a shortstop and a left fielder. It doles out from a position of depth. Most of those particular trade chips have pretty good power, too, something Tampa Bay could use.

A swap could certainly be beneficial to both teams. They just have to sit down and figure out exactly what.

But there's plenty to work with.