So, here's the question: Would you trade Miller as part of the package? Because it won't work without him.

As for me, I say yes. Haren's contract is absurdly reasonable, and Miller is still a pitching prospect, one seemingly prone to injury.

What else would it take?

Haren is on a short list of players I would include Miller in a trade for.

As long as it didn't include Weglarz.  

Yes, I'd trade Adam Miller for Haren. I'm not sure if Haren is really as good as he was this year, but regardless, a 1-2-3 of CC, him, and Fausto is filthy.

Olney gives no indication whether Beane would ask for Major League ready players, or prospects lower down the chain. It's my understanding that we're deeper the farther down we go.

People with a better view of our system - what do you think?

I know that we don't want to give up on Barfield, but is there a possibility to swing him for a lower level prospect from some NL team? We could then at least include that piece in the deal for Haren, along with what else Beane wants - what's the A's catching situation? Shoppach has pop, plate discipline, and is strong defensively.

Miller, Shoppach, + lower level prospect(s)? Is this even close?

I would trade (and I think we would have to trade) ANY TWO guys not on our 25 man.  So, think your two favorite/best/can't miss types and start from their.    Is that Miller/Welgraz? Miller/Hodges? Miller/Lofgren?

I'd think the way this would work would be a combination of two guys above and add a major league ready lower level guy (Sowers, Laffey, Sean Smith, Francisco, Shoppach) and we get Haren and a non-impact guy like a mid reliever, bench player or low level non-prospect.  

Even this, I don't know if it would be enough to match what Arizona or even Yankees could come up with.

Let me state for the record that I'm against making a move to respond to what another team has done.  With that being said, what better way to flip off Detroit's monster-sized offense by a monster-sized pitching staff?  I'll admit to throwing some objectivity to the side at the image.

I think everyone should tame their expectations a bit.  When's the last time a "sleeper team" that a writer named actually made the move?

Miller, Laffey, and Weglarz.  That's right, I said it.

I've been thinking this for a little while. Shapiro has been so, so quiet.

That said, I don't know if it gets done with Gutz or Cabrera. I'm more inclined to deal Gutz but I don't know.

I'd go Miller, Sowers/Laffey, and Mills/Hodges. I would not trade Weglarz. His power is too damn cool.

Another thing: Though the intention would still be to resign CC, Haren makes the loss of CC to free agency bearable. And with his contract, we could afford both - at the same time - for 3 whole years, which just so happens to be the duration of Westbrook's contract, as well.

I remember reading Beane was looking for two pitchers in return for Haren.  If we could swing Miller and Sowers, I would definitely make that trade.  Miller and Laffey would cause some hesitation for me, but that might be the level of talent Oakland is asking for Haren.  

I'm not too crazy about Dan Haren because this would definitely be a case of us 'buying high'. I guess I'd be fine with a trade if it involved players that we didn't value too highly, like Barfield and Francisco.

Plus, Haren's FIP is consistently in the 4.00 ERA range and not substantially different from Jake Westbrook's numbers in that regard. The advantage with Haren is that his higher K-rates make him less dependent on his team's defense. Just don't look to acquire him in the hope that he'll put up the same numbers this year.

Addressing the thought of losing all of our minor league talent if we make a trade for Haren. I don't see us losing both Miller and Lofgren. More likely it would be one or the other. Also as others have pointed out before, one of the reasons that our minor league system doesn't boast the "five-star" prospects (other than Miller) that other organizations boast is because young stars already on the ML team (Sizemore, Carmona, etc.) We don't have any aging holes on the team, outside of Byrd's spot in the rotation. Our offense is all young guys or in the case of Dellucci and Blake, replaceable through FA/trade/multiple avg. OF prospects within the our system.

If we can acquire Haren for one of Miller/Lofgren, one of Weglarz/Mills/Hodges/Brown, and one of Sowers/Laffey, I seriously consider it.

I think CC is the linchpin to all this though. If we can't work out a deal with him, then I don't see us making a trade that would weaken our SP depth. If we can resign him, then I think we can make the trade and not have to worry about replacing two roles after next year (Byrd and CC)

You have to remember we're dealing with Billy Beane here, who has a statistical approach to prospects: high OPS for hitters, for example.   I don't know that we have people in the system who fit the A's "model," although if they want Garko as part of a trade for Haren, I'd do it.  This strikes me as like the Colon trade -- they're going to want three really good prospects; I don't think Sowers or Laffey really fit.  Miller, yes, but you'd have to give up two other top kids, and I suspect the Indians will hesitate (as usual) to relinquish cheap kids for more expensive major league talent.

Let's face the facts people, we are not going to make any moves this off season that will change our team in any major way for this season or next.  We are going to stand pat with what we had because the owner is satisfied with just making the playoff last year and hope that we get lucky again.  We are not trading for Bay, Lincecum, Rios, Haren or any other impact players.  We have made our off season moves, don't expect miracles from a McDuck.

The Tigers have improved and we are going to stand pat because thats what we do.  The Tigers are going for it this year and we can say all we want that they haven't improved but I have news for you they are not done adding to their team yet.  This season it is championship or bust and they have the best GM in the world for this type of situation.  We have a stand pat, make minor trades or signing GM who doesn't have the budget or the creativity to do anything that is going to drastically change our team.  Its easy to change a team when you are over budget and have nothing to lose by trading away fading stars, it is quite different to add players when your team is good but not great and you are not sure who is going to be a future starter or future bust.  This organizations strength is adding depth and drafting depth but what we fail to do is acquire impact players.  The organization is going to keep saying we are a small market team and we can't afford high priced free agents and the like but I ask you how is Detroit a bigger market then Cleveland?  Its not and in fact the economy in Detroit is in a recession yet they spend like money is being made at Comerica.