There was an interesting deal on Monday afternoon that far exceeded the players involved. The Oakland Athletics and Cincinnati Reds made a deal involving four players. On their way to Cincinnati are infielder Aaron Miles and the notorious player to be named later (or cash considerations). Heading out west are center fielder Willy Taveras and infielder Adam Rosales.
It's also become pretty apparent that the only player the Athletics really wanted in this deal was Rosales, and only took Taveras' contract on in return for Miles'. Why? Because Willy hasn't even had time to pack his bags and he's already been designated for assignment -- look how sad he is in that photo -- by the Athletics, who need to make room for the recently acquired Gabe Gross and Steve Tolleson.
The A's, quiet for much of the winter, made a late splash on Tuesday by signing Ben Sheets to a one-year deal worth about $10 million. Sheets can earn up to another $2 million in incentives.
Sheets, a former All-Star who missed all of the 2009 season with injuries, is obviously a gamble for the A's, but they had more cash than other clubs to spend because the rest of the roster is so young and cheap.
The A's have been desperate for power in the lineup, and now they are losing one of their top power prospects ... who is apparently going to follow a higher power.
Grant Desme, who hit 31 homers in 2009 in Class-A, is retiring from baseball, and he plans to pursue a life in the priesthood.
"Last year before the season I really had a strong feeling of a calling and real strong desire to follow it," Desme said. "I just fought it. As an excuse I went into this year as a test, to see, just hoping and praying about it. As the year went on, God blessed me, and I had a better year than I could have imagined, but that reconfirmed my desire because I wasn't at peace with where I was at."
Eric Chavez may end up being the highest paid utility player in the majors.
Which would be just fine with him. Beats being on the disabled list.
Chavez -- remember him? -- is getting ready to go into spring training in an unfamiliar role. After six years as one of the elite two-way players in the game, followed by three years as a virtual non-entity dealing with one injury after another, Chavez and the A's are looking for something in the middle.
Ben Sheets, a potential top-of-the-rotation pitcher who missed all of 2009 because of elbow surgery, worked out Tuesday for scouts in Monroe, La., and one club official on hand said Sheets "threw very well. He threw easy."
The scout speculated that the Cubs, Mets and Rangers are the favorites to sign Sheets, a four-time All-Star who from 2007-08 was 25-14 with a 3.39 ERA. Perhaps surprisingly, Oakland had multiple people there along with the above clubs.
A "ton" of teams were on hand, the scout said, including the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Phillies and Reds.
There was an interesting deal on Monday afternoon that far exceeded the players involved. The Oakland Athletics and Cincinnati Reds made a deal involving four players. On their way to Cincinnati are infielder 
The A's, quiet for much of the winter, made a late splash on Tuesday by signing 
The A's have been desperate for power in the lineup, and now they are losing one of their top power prospects ... who is apparently going to follow a higher power.
Eric Chavez
Ben Sheets
