Payroll Flexibility Gives A's Option to Look at Furcal

DANA POINT, Calif. - A's general manager Billy Beane chuckles when you ask him if he has a lot of money to spend this offseason.

"A lot for us is dinner for the Yankees' staff," Beane says.

The truth, however, is that the A's are indeed in a remarkably flexible position, capable of fielding a payroll as low as $40 million or as high as $80 million.

The A's sudden ability to spend puts them in position to add offense to support their young pitching. Their most obvious need is a corner outfielder, but catcher and second base are the only two positions where they are truly set.

Thus, perhaps it should not come as a surprise that the A's are expressing strong interest in one of the most attractive players on the free-agent market — shortstop Rafael Furcal.

The A's finished last in the American League in on-base percentage last season and last in the leadoff spot. The addition of Furcal would instantly transform their offense, particularly if the A's also added a slugger through free agency or trade. They've got enough money and enough prospects to go either way.

Beane, as we've seen in the past, is willing to move any player at any time. But if he succeeds in building a potential contender, he will be reluctant to trade closer Huston Street, who could join left-hander Jerry Blevins and right-handers Joey Devine and Brad Ziegler in a dynamic — and inexpensive — bullpen.

What Beane can accomplish remains to be seen — the Dodgers are eager to retain Furcal, and 10 teams are interested in him, according to the player's agent, Paul Kinzer. But for a change, the A's are poised to add quality players rather than subtract them. Flexibility is a wonderful thing.

No roar from Tigers

The Tigers, who need a shortstop, are not even pursuing Furcal. Nor are they planning to bid for free-agent closer Francisco Rodriguez, who would fill another of their needs.

G.M. Dave Dombrowski is on record as saying that the club's payroll will remain around $134 million. The team already has committed approximately $100 million to 10 players for next season.

"We're not going to be active in big-name free agents," Dombrowski says. "We don't feel limited in what we can do as a club. We still have the ability and flexibility to do some things. But we've got enough big-name star players as it is. Sometimes you need supplemental players who can be just as helpful."

When asked about trading right fielder Magglio Ordonez, Dombrowski replies, "It's not a desire — at all. When you look at our ballclub, we're specifically looking for a catcher, shortstop and bullpen. The everyday lineup is pretty solid offensively with the guys we have.

"We have three young players — (Justin) Verlander, (Curtis) Granderson, (Miguel) Cabrera — who I don't think we would move. We're not looking to move other people. We'll listen to what other people have to say. But no, we're not looking to move (Ordonez)."

Ordonez, 34, is guaranteed $18 million next season, and his contract includes vesting options of $18 million in 2010 and $15 million in 2011.

Milton Bradley: The perfect Ray

The Rays want to add a full-time right fielder or DH so they can avoid using a platoon at both positions. Free agent Milton Bradley, a switch hitter, would be ideal at DH; the Rays then could re-sign Rocco Baldelli and alternate him with Gabe Gross in right.

The problem for the Rays is that many of their players will receive substantial salary increases, limiting the club's financial flexibility. And Bradley, after leading the American League in OPS, would be justified in seeking a deal in excess of the three-year, $36 million that the Royals awarded free-agent outfielder Jose Guillen last offseason.

The Rays would not go to that level; nor, perhaps, would any other team, given Bradley's injury history. But Bradley, 30, holds particular appeal as a Type B free agent; a team could sign him without losing a draft pick.

The Rangers are interested in retaining Bradley, and the Blue Jays also would be a logical suitor. While Bradley fits best as a DH, he also could make sense for NL contenders such as the Mets, Cardinals and Phillies, depending upon how the offseason plays out.

Greener pastures

Padres shortstop Khalil Greene is drawing interest from the Orioles and Reds, and a move to either team could benefit him greatly, considering that both clubs play in hitter-friendly parks.

Greene, 29, batted only .213 before suffering a season-ending fractured hand on July 31, but he produced a 27-homer, 97-RBI season in 2007 and was an above-average defender before experiencing a dropoff in 2008.

Baltimore's Camden Yards was the No. 1 home-run park last season according to park factor, a measure that compares the rate of statistics at home to the rate of statistics on the road. Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark ranked fourth.

Greene will earn $6.5 million next season, then become a free agent.

Pirates' Tabata looking good

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman says he always gets nervous when he is praised for a trade, knowing the deal easily could turn out the other way.

It's far too early to judge Cashman's acquisitions of outfielder Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte last July, but outfielder Jose Tabata — the most talented of the four players the Yankees sent the Pirates — seems to be on the right track.

Tabata, 20, produced a .964 OPS in 22 games at Double AA Altoona after the trade and is off to a decent start in the Venezuelan winter league.

"A change of scenery does wonders for guys at times," Pirates G.M. Neal Huntington says. "He had the pressure of being one of New York's top guys at a young age. He had early struggles at Double A and in the cold weather. He didn't handle it that well.

"He's the first to admit that he should have handled it differently. But he did everything we asked of him. He was a good teammate. We saw the good."

Needless to say, the Pirates' offseason goal is to continue infusing as much talent as possible into their organization.

Around the horn

As much as Phillies manager Charlie Manuel might want to reunite with Manny Ramirez, it's not going to happen. The Phillies face 10 potential arbitration cases, including a whopper with first baseman Ryan Howard. While Ramirez would be a perfect replacement for Pat Burrell, the Phillies' own free-agent left fielder, the team is in no position to top even the Dodgers' first offer, believed to be two years at more than $50 million . . .

The Dodgers declined right-hander Brad Penny's $9.25 million option because they were turned off by his attitude and did not trust him to be healthy enough to trade in spring training. Penny, however, has hired a full-time trainer from the Athletes' Performance Institute, and he is certain to draw attention in a thin market for starting pitching, especially as a Type B free agent. One thing to remember: Penny has spent his entire career in the National League . . .

Don't count on Bobby Valentine leaving Japan unless the Mariners blow him away with a substantial offer. Valentine, entering the final year of his contract with the Chibe Lotte Marines, is earning $4 million per season. He would only leave for the right major-league job, and the owner of Chibe Lotte wants to keep him. The Mariners likely will seek to hire a manager with a lower salary and lower profile . . .

The Royals, after making big offers to a number of prominent free agents last offseason, are now trying to save money so they can offer contract extensions to right-hander Zack Greinke and third baseman Alex Gordon. Greinke is two years away from free agency and Gordon four. Teams such as the Rangers have stopped calling about Grienke, but trade discussions could ignite if the Royals fail to lock him up long- term . . .

Larry Reynolds, the agent for free-agent reliever Chad Cordero, says his client is "way ahead of schedule" in his recovery from a torn labrum, which required surgery last July 8. Cordero already is throwing, and Reynolds believes that barring setbacks, the pitcher might be ready by March. A midseason return is more likely, and bullpen-starved teams such as the Mets, Tigers and Indians might be willing to wait . . .

Bad news for the A's and other teams interested in Brian Giles: The Padres plan to exercise Giles' $9 million option in the next day or two. What's more, Giles has attained complete no-trade protection as a player with 10 years of major-league service, five with the same club. He vetoed a deal to the Red Sox last summer.

This article originally published on FOXSports.com.

Read more of Ken's columns here.