Oakland trades Scott Kasmir to the Astros for two prospects

[Auggie]

HOUSTON -- Filling perhaps the most glaring need on a playoff-hopeful team, the Astros acquired left-hander Scott Kazmir from the A's on Thursday in exchange for Minor Leaguers Daniel Mengden and Jacob Nottingham in a deal that pairs the Houston native with fellow lefty Dallas Keuchel at the top of what suddenly appears to be a premier rotation.

After free-agent negotiations between Kazmir and his hometown team were futile two years ago, Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow kept tabs on the Cypress, Texas, resident as he eventually signed with the A's and exceeded even Luhnow's expectations.

"He's actually performed as well if not better than we expected on most days," Luhnow said shortly after the deal was completed. "He's one of the top starters in the American League. We looked at a lot of his games this year, he pitches deep into games, doesn't walk guys, doesn't give up a lot of hits. I don't think he's given up double-digit hits once this whole season. He's just a performer. If you look at a guy who can plug into our situation here and make us better, he's really at the top of the list."

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/138202068/astros-acquire-scott-kazmir-from-as

The Athletics make good money yet owners Lew Wolff & John Fisher continually spend like paupers. Heck, they even make Cleveland look like spendthrifts. Give me one reason to care about the A's anymore ...

[Kingofalldems]

2. Good deal for Houston. Kazmir is money.

[KamaAina]

3. Looks like the D-'s are gonna have to repeat fourth grade

[Jamaal510]

4. Being an A's fan

for 15+ years has taught me 2 things: to never get too accustomed to seeing any of the players (especially the better-performing ones) in A's uniforms for very long, and to not expect continuity or a perennial contender with this team. If BB was going to trade Kaz, he could've at least traded him to someone outside the division so that the A's wouldn't face him as often. Aside from these dumb trades from Billy Beane, I almost wish that the MLB was more like the NFL in the sense that teams HAVE to spend a certain amount of money (like how the Raiders were forced to during this offseason after having extra cap space). That way, the A's would be forced to put a quality product on the field consistently instead of a bunch of bums and no-names, and their front office wouldn't be such cheapskates. As cynical as this sounds, whenever I hear them talk about "building for the future", I just see that as an excuse to be cheap.

[Auggie]

5. Bruce Jenkins of the Chronicle: "A’s deserve better than ownership’s penurious disgrace"

The disgrace of A’s ownership really hit home at the Giants’ tribute to Lon Simmons at AT&T Park on Thursday night. The A’s were well represented, as a nod to Simmons’ memorable stint with the club, and they enjoyed sharing the laughter as so many wonderful stories were told.

SNIP

As for the fans, one wonders why anyone would bother to give Lew Wolff or John Fisher one cent of a paycheck. But this is a hard-core group, small in number but fierce in loyalty to the green and gold. The Warriors’ fan base has nothing on these people, few of whom would be terribly upset if the A’s played at the Coliseum forever. Even among the loyalists, though, faith is on the wane.

It’s not so much that Billy Beane made a terrible deal. He was going to lose Kazmir anyway, and he might have landed two excellent prospects. Some of his trades work, some don’t. The larger point? The whole operation is tired and depressing. Wolff and Fisher are extremely wealthy men who make millions in baseball’s revenue sharing, yet refuse to take their rightful place among the big-spending teams, and there’s simply no excuse for that.

Can you imagine running a business that everyone wants you to sell — and then stubbornly refusing? As if you’re right and the exasperated public is wrong? The message couldn’t be more clear: Sell the damn team. Get out. Something has to change in Oakland, and it won’t without an entirely new outlook.

MORE: http://www.sfgate.com/athletics/article/A-s-deserve-better-than-ownership-s-penurious-6404458.php

I wish the players and coaches well -- even Billy Beane -- but until Wolff/Fisher either sell the team or spend more, I'm not spending any more time on them (and I've followed this team for 35 years).