When Billy Beane traded top prospects to the Chicago Cubs for Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel earlier this month, you knew he was all in for the 2014 season. The Oakland A’s currently own the best record in baseball and have been dominant in all aspects of the game, but with the Angels only a game and a half back, Beane may not be done wheeling and dealing just yet.
Entering the season, the second base position was a concern and still is. Eric Sogard and Nick Punto have been unsuccessfully platooning at second for the most part. The veteran Punto was brought in this year to be a bench option and a suitable replacement when someone needed a day off. Instead he has played in 55 games while posting a .213 average with two homers and 12 RBI. Punto also has committed 4 errors at second base this year.
Sogard has had a disappointing season thus far for the green and gold. While the expectations were not all that high, a .186 batting average, zero homeruns, and nine RBI's in 63 games isn’t the slightest bit promising or productive.
When you look at the A’s roster the production is clearly there and there’s no question why they have the best record right now, but the lack of offense from second base needs to improve.
Oakland should absolutely target a second baseman as the trade deadline approaches, and if they are able to land a solid defensive second baseman with an average bat this will be an even better A’s ball club.
Now, Chase Utley’s name is always thrown around come July, and while Utley on the A’s would be fun to see, it’s farfetched and unlikely; especially considering top prospects Addison Russell and Billy McKinney were dealt for Samardzija and Hammel.
A more likely trade candidate is a guy like Ben Zobrist. The Rays second baseman is hitting .266 with six homeruns and 24 RBI. Zobrist would automatically improve the A’s defense while providing some stability in the lineup with a consistent performance at the plate.
The first half of the season featured a tough schedule for the A’s yet they have managed to hold an AL West lead for 76 consecutive days while owning the best record in MLB for 25 consecutive days.
The second half of the season looks to be a lighter schedule for Oakland, but they still have 10 games remaining against the second place Angels, and six against the third place Mariners.
Oakland has had a great first half, but there is still a lot of baseball to play and they are in the best division in baseball. There’s no doubt the A’s have a problem at second base, but the fact that their lineup has been so productive, it can be overlooked to a certain point. With the trade deadline less than two weeks away, the A’s need to target a second baseman.