Match-making
Could Giants make a deal for A’s aces in historic cross-bay swap?
Matt Olson. Matt Chapman. Sean Manaea. Frankie Montas. Chris Bassitt. In the mind of A’s management, none of Oakland’s core players are off limits in trade talks with other teams.
“There’s nobody,” A’s general manager David Forst said Tuesday when asked if his roster has any untouchables.
It was the strongest statement yet from the A’s that they could be on the verge of another rebuild following a fouryear run of contending in the American League West, including three trips to the playoffs.
“Ultimately, it’s about the ability to compete for a fifth straight year or set ourselves up for another run that we just had,” Forst said, “and that’ll be the decision.”
On the second day of the GM meetings in Carlsbad, Forst said he has started engaging in trade conversation, and while the A’s appear to be sellers, the Giants certainly are buyers — which makes the Bay Area teams a match made in hotstove heaven.
Coming off a franchise record 107-win season, the Giants have no one locked in the rotation beyond Logan Webb because Kevin Gausman, Anthony Desclafani and Alex Wood are free agents.
If and when Manaea, Montas and Bassitt — Oakland’s top three starters, all eligible for arbitration — are available, count Farhan Zaidi and the Giants in as likely pursuers. Such a trade would be historic.
In cash deals between the teams, the A’s acquired Skye Bolt in May and Burch Smith before the 2020 season. But the teams haven’t made a player-for-player trade since 1990, when the Giants sent Ernest Riles to the A’s for Darren Lewis.
Asked if another cross-bay deal will ever happen, Forst said, “It will. I don’t see why not. I talk to Far as much as I talk to anyone. Yeah, there has to be a match.
“There was never any reason that Brian (Sabean) and Billy (Beane) couldn’t get