Actually this might clear things up a bit. Here's a link to the A's SBN blog and an excellent breakdown of what Beane might be asking for in a Haren trade. Coming out and saying "he's going to ask for a Miller and Lofgren is a little absurd. You don't ask for something like that and expect to get a deal done. The purpose for Beane entering into trade talks about Haren (and Blanton as well) is that he wants to move them now as opposed to next year when the value will dip and/or the prospects graduate to the bigs (Miller pulling off a Lincecum this year will pretty much knock us out of trading him for another pitcher, it wouldn't make any sense).

Basically the guy over at the A's blog after looking at some of the past Beane deals (and other teams deals) boils it down to accepting/settling on the following:

1 AAA/Grade A-B+ (or equivalent) prospect, 2-3 Low-A/Grade A prospect, 1 AAA/Grade C+ (or equivalent) prospect.

Miller would be AAA high end prospect, Kiko Calero was the player he referred to (he of the Mark Mulder trade) in regards to an example of the Grade C+ AAA prospect, who that would be from our system I don't know, nor really care about. And probably a guy like Wergalez and one/two of our low A ball high end starting pitching prospects.

Until there is an actual deal for Santana I'll take the offers we hear with grain of salt, although a bidding war between the Sux and Skanks can certainly lead to a the winning team giving up more value than they are receiving. Can Beane pull off the type of trade you are stating (two high end starting pitchers) from a team like Bos or Ny or LAD, possibly, but its a little unlikely. Even in all the Santana talk its not that the Yanks have to give up Hughes /and Kennedy, its one or the other. Same for all of the Sux rumors (Buckholtz/Lester).

Funny you should mention that.  It seems Bedard has no intention of being an Oriole when his current contract is up.  It would seem the floodgate for trade talks will open up soon enough, although his contract isn't as drool-worthy.

Clearly you and I are on the same page.

If I'm Beane, I try to get another pitcher in there instead of Crowe.  Maybe this is just me, but if I'm rebuilding by trading away an ace I want more than one arm in return.

Move to coin the stand-alone sentence "Weglarz" as an expression of simple awe.

e.g. "What a moon shot Victor just launched. Weglarz."

Using Haren's contract to elevate him closer to Santana's value is dead on; that seems to be the consensus on Beane's current stance.  I think it's a pretty good idea, it's not like Beane will have any shortage of suitors with that contract.  

Not to the Yanks or Red Sox. That leverage (affordable contract) really doesn't mean much to them. They are simply in it for player talent. They'll basically pay whatever for it.