Oakland Gets Major Steal in Swisher Trade

Billy Beane, GM of the Oakland Athletics, is easily one of the most craftiest GMs in all of baseball.

Today, he traded away a personal and Oakland fan favorite, Nick Swisher, to the Chicago White Sox, in exchange for three prospects. Now, I understand that Oakland is rebuilding and all, but getting away with the prospects that he did is remarkable and franchise-changing for the bat he gave up.

The two starting pitchers are the top prospects in the entire Chicago White Sox organization. Fautino De Los Santos, the centerpiece of the deal, has an unbelievable ceiling that if fulfilled, could leave the Athletics with a #1 starting pitcher better than Dan Haren by 2009. Gio Gonzalez, the second rated pitcher in the deal, is big-league ready and a dangerous left handed pitcher who could start next season in Oakland's rotation.

Ryan Sweeney was the third player involved, and though his prospect light has definitely dimmed over the past year, he still can be a decent source of power off the bench, possibly as a fourth outfielder. One thing is for sure...he is definitely cheaper than Swisher, and he could potentially regain his five star prospect status anytime.

Nick Swisher, a big name in the league, will contribute another power bat to Chicago's lineup. However, he does have his limitations. He does not sport the best batting average, and tends to be somewhat of a free swinger when he goes up to the plate, swinging at some pitches he definitely shouldn't swing at. He could potentially hit 30-35 home runs for the White Sox, which should help a power-based lineup for Ozzie Guillen.

All in all, the Athletics got a pretty good deal out of this trade, as De Los Santos and Gonzalez could anchor a powerful Oakland rotation by 2009. Watch out for the Athletics...if they keep on making off with deals like this one, they could be a serious contender as early as this season for the AL West.