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The Oakland Telegraph
18 July 2033
Perez heads Oakland's all-star selections, as Beane flips Duran and Mason for prospects Boone and Price
By Y. Dowebotherwiththis, pointless games correspondent
Oakland's improved pitching performances this year have been recognised by the selectors of the all-star rosters, after starters Antonio Perez, Brad Dundee, Anastasio Vasquez and MLB save leader Jose Duran all made the American League roster. Greg Carter, unsurprisingly, did not. It's a first and well-deserved selection for Vasquez, and a second for each of the other three. On offense, popular right fielder Dennis Hawkins also made the AL squad. It's Hawkins's fourth all-star selection and first since 2029.
However, barely had the all-star email press notice hit journalists' inboxes, when another press notice was circulated, this time by the A's, saying that Duran was no longer an Oakland player. In a classic Beane move of flipping an expiring contract, he has been traded to the Twins. Also heading to Minnesota are catcher Miguel Mason - who was heading for arbitration during the offseason with an alarmingly high estimate of over $8m so ripe to be traded sooner or later anyway - nobody minor league infielder Jose Lozano and over-rated reliever Ben Nixon.
In return the A's received an excellent prospect and a decent prospect. Catcher Dave Boone was the real prize in the trade. The 23-year-old was Minnesota's best young player and the BNN #3 prospect at the start of the year. 23-year-old starting pitcher John Price, the #24 prospect, and minor league catcher Juan Ramirez, 26, have also headed westwards to the Coliseum.
All three new arrivals begin their A's careers on the minor league roster, although in Boone's case, probably not for long. With a league-leading 34 saves already this year, the decision to move along Duran seems odd coming from a pennant chasing club, but more seasoned Beane observers will not have been surprised at this kind of shenanigans. Uber-reliever Frank Sargent (boasting a rather tasty 4-0 and 1.59 ERA so far this year) takes over closer duties, while lefty Armando Rodriguez, drafted back in the third round in 2026 and largely forgotten about by the A's front office since then, comes in as lefty middle relief. Catcher Chun-mei Leong comes up from the minors to take over Mason's role as backup to regular starter Miguel Rojas and starter against lefty pitchers. Realistically he's probably just keeping a seat warm until Beane decides to promote Boone.
In the past when Beane has done this sort of flipping manoeuver midway through a pennant challenge, he has avoided derailing the A's form and momentum. There's always a first time for everything however - is this time when it all goes wrong? The A's had a disappointing run before the all-star break, slipping to 4.5 games back of Texas, at 60-31. So perhaps these moves will spark the team back into life.
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