I received an email from grover, over at Athletics Nation, the SBN's A's blog, early last week with an interesting proposal...

(After first assuring me that he wasn't looking to start a "flame war" with federalbaseball.com readers), grover wrote:

"I like to talk trade scenarios over at AN and I've found that getting input from from the fans of the other side tends to lead to a more interesting and realistic discussion.

"So, if the A's came calling about Ryan Zimmerman how would Jim Bowden respond? How would you respond?!?! Would the Nationals be willing to discuss a trade involving Zimmerman and what would they want/need in return. Now, I know one automatic response would be to ask for the 3 best prospects in the A's system (the other automatic response is "go to H _ _ _" but I'm going to ignore that one for now) but the changing tide of prospects-for-vets trades and Zimmerman's 2008 performance makes that an unrealistic price tag.

 

"What would it cost to acquire Ryan Zimmerman? You don't have to know the A's system, just tell me what positions you're looking at and I can tell you who's available. Everyone in the Oakland organization is available providing they can actually be traded per MLB rules, so no one from the 2008 draft class can be included."

My first response...

"First of all I'd say that if GM Jim Bowden even considered trading Zimmerman, (after failing to ink '08 1st Round Aaron Crow and continuing to trade for former Reds), DC fans would completely revolt. In spite of an injury-filled season, the Nationals have clearly identified Zimmerman as the face of the franchise, and one of the key components in the Nationals' rebuilding effort, so trading him now would not sit well at all...that being said, though Zimmerman always says the right things, I got the sense he wasn't happy that DC didn't lock him up long term before this season, and just renewed him at a modest pay increase, and they'll be negotiating for real this time around, so I can (sort of pretend to) imagine a hypothetical scenario in which he might become avaiable...

The Nationals drafted Chris Marrero as a third baseman, but have moved him around to OF/1B with Zimmerman established at third, but I imagine Marrero or Kory Casto could man third competently for a few years if Zim was dealt...the Nationals have drafted a lot of pitchers recently and the outfield and infield are set for now with young starters at the major league level, (though MLB-ready position players in the system are hard to identify), so I'd think it would have to be a high-end pitching prospect, (or two), and a fielder, (1st base is particularly weak) coming back in return for DC to ever consider a trade...So who do the A's have?

grover's response:

"For 1B, why not start with Daric Barton? He's certainly struggled this year but his minor league track record plus his September 07 in the Show advocate his worth. Midland's Sean Doolittle has split time in the OF and 1B (where he's considered a very good defender) and hit 40 doubles and 22 HR between Stockton and Midland. He's a legit 1B prospect. Probably the A's best position prospect is 1B/3B/OF is Chris Carter. 38 HR as a 21 year old in High-A ball but K's are an issue. That's about it for 1B.

 

I didn't see any future catchers in the Nationals' org. How about Stockton's Josh Donaldson? Everyone above him pretty much (stinks) so I won't waste your time.

 

Any interest in former Philly farmhand Adrian Cardenas to play 2B?

 

Pitching wise, from what I've read Beane won't deal Cahill or Anderson but a lot of teams have asked about 21 year old Vincent Mazzaro, currently in Sac's rotation. If Gio Gonzalez, Dana Eveland or Greg Smith intrigued they'd probably be available."

That's as far as the talks have progressed, and I stalled grover this weekend while I had federalbaseball.com's scouts look into the A's prospects (alright I was really on vacation), but the A's GM is on the line now and he wants some answers, things are happening quickly, and you now have 24-48 hours to make something happen? I linked the A's prospects to their MiLB pages and here's the SBN blog "Minor League Ball" written by John Sickels, and mssickels' recent rehashing of "Oakland Athletics Top 20 Prospects Review" from January, 8, 2008. You think your better than DC GM Jim Bowden? Prove it! Make a deal to better the team!...Suspend disbelief and try to get the best deal you can for Ryan Zimmerman...