A's Beane Admits Uncertain Ballpark Situation Impacting Team

Beane Confirms A's Exploring Options Beyond Proposed Site In Fremont

ONE-YEAR WONDERS: The A's signed DH Jason Giambi and 1B Nomar Garciaparra to one-year deals this offseason, while also trading for LF Matt Holliday, who has one year remaining on his contract. ESPN’s Steve Berthiaume said the A's roster "appears to be very much for the short-term." Beane: “It’s a little bit of balance. ... We acquired a number of very talented young players. So we’re still on that plan from a big-picture standpoint, but we also because of that had some flexibility in our payroll, so it provided some opportunities for us in what was a very unusual off-season for everybody" (“Baseball Tonight,” ESPN, 3/24). Sacramento Bee columnist Marcos Breton said the team had to make those moves "because they were toothless and they were faceless last year, and because -- let’s face it -- they are a team in limbo." Breton: "They don’t have a stadium, they don’t know where they’re going and they have to give their fans something” (“Jim Rome Is Burning,” ESPN, 3/24).

ON DECK CIRCLE: In St. Petersburg, John Romano writes with the Marlins' deal for a new ballpark complete, both the Rays and the A's "graduate to the position" of MLB's "neediest franchises." MLB Commissioner Bud Selig will "start taking a more active role" in the Rays' quest to build a new ballpark, and MLB President & COO Bob DuPuy is "going to start knocking on the doors of local politicians." The "clock is now running" for the Rays (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 3/25).

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