Comments on: The A’s sign Grant Balfour: Two years, $8.1 million http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/the-as-are-on-the-verge-of-signing-grant-balfour/ Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball. Sat, 25 May 2013 23:36:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: raffy7 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/the-as-are-on-the-verge-of-signing-grant-balfour/comment-page-1/#comment-104746 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 05:13:37 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=35165#comment-104746 While I do think $4mil is a bit steep for Balfour, the A’s did add Dejesus, Willingham and Matsui this offseason, so their lineup will be much improved

]]> By: scatterbrian http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/the-as-are-on-the-verge-of-signing-grant-balfour/comment-page-1/#comment-104643 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 22:21:19 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=35165#comment-104643 The A’s already have a cheaper and comparable DH, and there’s no way Manny would play in the field.

]]> By: clydeserra http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/the-as-are-on-the-verge-of-signing-grant-balfour/comment-page-1/#comment-104548 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 18:28:59 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=35165#comment-104548 There are no hitting options. Manny may still be able to hit, but it would all be given back when either him or Matsui has to play left.

]]> By: BC http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/the-as-are-on-the-verge-of-signing-grant-balfour/comment-page-1/#comment-104526 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:46:02 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=35165#comment-104526 Manny. I bet they could have had him for 1 year, $8 mil.

]]> By: Loren http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/the-as-are-on-the-verge-of-signing-grant-balfour/comment-page-1/#comment-104522 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:41:19 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=35165#comment-104522 Thanks. That makes me feel a little better.

]]> By: scatterbrian http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/the-as-are-on-the-verge-of-signing-grant-balfour/comment-page-1/#comment-104518 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:30:39 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=35165#comment-104518 That would be nice, but who would you recommend exactly? I don’t see any viable options just sitting around waiting for a phone call…

]]> By: BC http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/the-as-are-on-the-verge-of-signing-grant-balfour/comment-page-1/#comment-104511 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:21:55 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=35165#comment-104511 $4 mil a year to Balfour? Wouldn’t it have been smarter to spend that money on someone who can, you know, actually hit a baseball once in a while?

]]> By: kinggeorge96 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/the-as-are-on-the-verge-of-signing-grant-balfour/comment-page-1/#comment-104500 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:05:54 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=35165#comment-104500 Is it just me, or do we hear a lot about the 3,000,000 free agents the Rays have lost to free agency and their being able to pick every player in first round of the draft, but nothing about the players they are being replaced with? I might have exaggerated that number a bit, btw…

But seriously, are they going to put out the farm team in Rays jerseys next year? Or are the draftees going to be suiting up in the majors next year.

]]> By: scottp9 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/the-as-are-on-the-verge-of-signing-grant-balfour/comment-page-1/#comment-104495 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:57:30 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=35165#comment-104495 It’s a protected pick. The A’s were (barely) in the bottom half of the 30 teams last year. The pick is pushed down from the original #15 because of extra picks added to the round for unsigned 2010 draftees.

]]> By: Loren http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/the-as-are-on-the-verge-of-signing-grant-balfour/comment-page-1/#comment-104487 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:42:31 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=35165#comment-104487 I just checked where the A’s drafted this year, figuring it must be in the top 15 so they would only lose a second rounder, but they draft 18th. I just can’t see how it’s worth it to give up the 18th pick in a stacked draft for a middle reliever, especially for a team that lives and dies through the draft.

]]> By: apbaguy http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/14/the-as-are-on-the-verge-of-signing-grant-balfour/comment-page-1/#comment-104468 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:11:48 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=35165#comment-104468 There are two reason’s for Beane pursuing a Type A free agent: 1) the A’s will keep him until they prove to themselves that they are in or out of the West race, and 2) if they drop out of the race, they can trade him to a contender and get that #1 pick back. The A’s rotation is felt to be strong, but last year the bullpen was shaky, with injuries (it’s the A’s) and fatigue. Balfour is insurance, not necessarily an upgrade, and his recent health is better than many of the A’s bullpen.

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