How sweet it is.
The Texas Rangers had an awful 2014 season, but they got to take some solace in the fact the Oakland A's nearly missed out on the postseason after making a headline deal at the deadline to bring in Jeff Samardzija and Jon Lester, giving up power hitter and clubhouse glue Yoenis Cespedes and tons of prospects along the way.
Now, Lester is free and most certainly won't be back in Oakland, the A's farm system is bare and it's been rumored they're shopping Samardzija, who will be a free agent following the 2015 season.
The roster tear-down continued over the weekend when the A's traded third baseman Josh Donaldson to Toronto for Brett Lawrie and a bunch of guys. Don't get it twisted: Lawrie is no Donaldson, even though he will be replacing him on the diamond.
Donaldson has been one of the game's best third basemen for a couple of years now, both at the plate and in the field. He had a bit of an off-year at the plate in 2014 but still hit .255 with 29 homers and 98 homers. He batted .301 in 2013 and finished fourth in the AL MVP balloting.
Billy Beane generally seems to always see his questioned moves eventually work out in the long run, but it'll be hard to see this being one of those. With that said, don't be shocked when it does.
