January 16th, 2022
Throwing in the Towel? A's Trade Strasburg
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- If the San Jose A's have any hopes of reclaiming the AL West anytime soon, they have a funny way of showing it. The team confirmed on Sunday that it is trading 4-time Cy Young Award winner Stephen Strasburg and minor league catcher Gilberto Canales to the New York Yankees for top pitching prospect Thomas Alford and cash.
"When we came to the realization that we wouldn't be able to work out an extension (with Strasburg), we decided it was time to cut bait," said one A's executive with knowledge of the trade. "We were pretty far apart on a deal, so the jig was basically up."
Strasburg is coming off an injury plagued 2021 season in which he made just four starts, but seems to be fully recovered from elbow surgery. He is entering the final year of a contract that will pay him $16 million this upcoming season. The Yankees are reportedly focusing on inking Strasburg to a contract that would assure that he finish his career in New York, though he is believed to be asking for more than $20 million per season.
"(Strasburg) just priced himself out of San Jose with the kind of money he was looking for," said the A's executive. "When you're 33 years old and coming off major surgery on your arm, asking for top dollar seems sort of ridiculous."
In return, the A's get the coveted lefthander Alford, who was rated as a top-10 prospect last season in the Yankees farm system. He joins an A's minor league system that is teeming with top pitching prospects like Ken Taylor (#10 prospect in MiLB), Jorge Diaz (#16 in MiLB), and Ray Thrailkill (#53). Though he only has one career start above Class-A ball, the 21 year-old Alford is expected to compete for a spot on the A's pitching staff in Spring Training.
The A's are also reportedly close to striking a deal for Mets closer Mario Cantu, who is eligible for free agency at the end of the 2022 season. He has recorded 31 or more saves in each of the last five seasons, with an ERA that has never risen above 2.48. San Jose is believed to be sending infielder Jedd Gyorko to New York, as it moves closer to signing free agent third baseman Will Middlebrooks.