Value

I was talking to a friend earlier today, as usual we were debating prospects and various minor league systems. We then came to a stalemate. The question proposed: "Would you rather have Cahill or Bumgarner?" My A's amigo argued that Cahill was more of a refined product, is more likely to reach that ceiling and also has a substantial ceiling himself. I argued Bumgarner has a significant edge in potential and also has put up dominating numbers thus far to back it up and the argument that "he has a lack of secondary pitches" is baffling considering he's opening the season in AA and he already has a major league average slider and a promising change-up.  This led me to another question......."If you were a general manager and you were given the choice          money aside) to start your career with either the talent in the Giants or A's organization, who would you choose?

Let's dive in at the major league level, at the major league level I think it's safer the two most valuable commodities reside at AT&T park nothing against the A's but Lincecum and Cain are two of the more valued commodities in baseball today just ask opposing general managers. Two starting pitchers that are south of the age 25 and are proven frontline starters at the major league level are scarce. Throw in the fact that one of them just won his first cy young award and is arguably the best pitcher in baseball and the other has emerged as a strong #2 and has not even yet realized his potential and your talking about the San Francisco Giants. On the other side of the bay you have two very different players in Matt Holliday and Justin Duscherer both are veteran players whom have firmly established themselves as all star caliber players. However, Holliday doesn't figure to be in Oakland past this year thus damaging his overall value but it's still substantial enough to net a top prospect a solid back of the rotation starter and a closer. Duscherer isn't quite is valuable but as a number two starter he still figures to have a good amount of value especially given his team friendly contract. Well, this one is clear the Giants have the two most valuable pieces as far as the major league teams are concerned. Look no further than what the A's got in return for Dan Haren, then think of what Tim Lincecum could net the Giants on the trade market. 

Let's not get to ahead of ourselves however, we must realize as a team  you have to take the whole picture into account this favors the A's due to the fact that though they may not have players of tremendous value currently at the major league level they have many young players that could net a decent return..........part 2 TM