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What If The Athletics Didn't Need To Worry About Money?

Imagine for just one day that the Oakland Athletics had all the money in the world and Billy Beane decided to go out and make trades left and right.

That would be a dream scenario for A's fans.

Over the years, there have been to many players shipped out of Oakland and the normal answer as to why is simply...

$$$MONEY$$$

With the trade deadline approaching on July 31st, A's fans should be preparing to say goodbye to more fan favorites such as Josh Reddick, Rich Hill, and maybe even Coco Crisp.

Instead of thinking about more players leaving Oakland, let's just take a few minutes to live in a bizzaro world where the Athletics can bring in players and spend money as if they were the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, or Boston Red Sox.

Here are three dream scenarios for the Oakland Athletics and its fans.

1. Make a trade to bring back Yoenis Cespedes

Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Out of all the trades made during and after the 2014 season, the trade which sent Cespedes to Boston may have hurt A's fans the most.

Cespedes, now with the New York Mets, is a perennial MVP candidate and has helped turned that team into one of the best in the National League.

He had the same affect on the Athletics when they first acquired him back in 2012.

The Athletics would have to give up a lot of prospects, but it would be worth it with Cespedes under contract until the end of the 2018 season.

He's making $27 million this year, but it wouldn't matter in a dream world. Bizzaro Athletics wouldn't think about the money and enjoy the success Cespedes would bring back to Oakland.

2. Offer The Houston Astros A Deal They Can't Refuse

Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Trades within a division rarely happen, but if the Athletics could make massive a trade with the Astros for either Jose Altuve or Carlos Correa, it would benefit the A's multiple ways.

  1. Oakland acquires a top of the line middle infielder who still has a lot of years left in their prime.
  2. It takes away a weapon from the Astros who have enough young talent to be on top of the A.L. West for years to come.

Altuve and Correa are already superstars and will only get better as they get older.

In this bizzaro world, the Athletics could make a ridiculous trade to bring in one of these two players and sign them to a huge six-plus year contract.

3. Convince Rickey Henderson He Still Wants To Play Ball

Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

This is more unlikely than either of the previously mentioned bizzaro moves, but hey, go big or go home, right?

Henderson is now 57 years old, but by all accounts, the man can still move. He was playing baseball at a high level when he retired at the age 44, so who knows, maybe he still has something in him.

The Athletics use Henderson as special instructor to help the team's outfielders and base stealers, but why instruct when he can just get out on the field and do it.

He obviously wouldn't be the player he was when he stole 130 bases in 1982, but he could swipe at least 15-20 bags per season, which would make him second best on the team.

So, why not? Bring back Rickey! Bring back the Rickey Run!

Updated Lineup With Dream Acquisitions:

1. Rickey Henderson - LF

2. Stephen Vogt - C

3. Jose Altuve - 2B

4. Yoenis Cespedes - CF

5. Khris Davis - DH

6. Josh Reddick - RF

7. Danny Valencia - 1B

8. Ryon Healy - 3B

9. Marcus Semien - SS

 

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