Oakland Athletics: MLB Will Reportedly Allow Move to San Jose

With the Oakland Athletics operating under a $55 million budget and losing two of their top starters, Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez, they've been adamant about moving to a new stadium, using the Cleveland Indians as a blueprint.

Until now, they haven't been able to set things in motion because MLB hadn't approved a move to San Jose, the Athletics' desired destination.

Well, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today on Saturday, the Athletics will be granted permission by February to move.

The Athletics went 74-88 last season, ending up 22 games behind the AL West champions, the Texas Rangers.

In 1994, when the Indians moved to Progressive Field (then Jacobs Field), their fortunes turned quickly. Their first season, they were one game behind the division-leading Chicago White Sox before a strike wiped out the season. They then proceeded to go 100-44 in their second season, making it to the World Series. They went to the World Series again two seasons later.

Said Athletics general manager Billy Beane, via FoxSports.com:

"

“The most successful organization opening a stadium was still the Cleveland Indians.

“For me, they provide the model entry into a new facility—not just having a good stadium, but having a good young team that you can sustain over a long course of time. That’s what we’re using as a blueprint.”

"

That blueprint appears to include San Jose.