This guy only has a positive WAR because of 2018. I know $3M is cheap. But, I think Oakland would be better off finding out if Dermis Garcia is a MLB player (or failing him, there is probably someone else worth being a 1B/DH)

This guy only has a positive WAR because of 2018.

That is a strange way to look at someone who's been >0 WAR 5 times out of his 10 seasons. Nor is it correct, take out 2018 and he's at 0.7 WAR for his career. Typically I'd think the same thing re: a better player at 1B/DH, but there really are not a lot of good players to be had there. DH/LF are the least valuable across MLB, then C/1B.

But also, unless the A's have some players I don't know about**, there are plenty of PAs to be had at 1B/DH.

Aside #2, I will brook no criticism of Jesus Aguilar. We should all be so lucky. He got his shot and was able to take advantage of it. He might now reach 3,000 PAs in his career as a solid 1 WAR bench/crappy starter, an AS game and career earnings of $19 M. That's practically the dream life. Sure, as a kid, we all dream of being the HoF SS or CF but I'd have sold my soul to be Aguilar. Long live the Jesus Aguilars of MLB!! They give hope to every kid who eventually realizes they are never gonna be Paul Konerko much less Mike Trout.

** Fair enough, the A's are at a point where I don't even know who they have on the roster so every one of their players is somebody I don't know about.

But also, unless the A's have some players I don't know about**, there are plenty of PAs to be had at 1B/DH.

Seth Brown and Jordan Diaz should get most of these PAs. Brown is arguably their best remaining player, and Diaz can hit some (#5 on MLB 1B prospects list, FWIW). I don't see the appeal in Aguilar.

Seth Brown and Jordan Diaz should get most of these PAs. Brown is arguably their best remaining player, and Diaz can hit some (#5 on MLB 1B prospects list, FWIW). I don't see the appeal in Aguilar.

This....I knew there was someone other than Seth Brown and the Dermis Garcia I tossed out worth taking those PA.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking Aguilar for Aguilar's sake. I appreciate it for him. But, it seems a waste for the As, who normally count their pennies and are here tossing $3M away (which is trivial for plenty of teams, but sadly, not for the As).

someone who's been >0 WAR 5 times out of his 10 seasons.

I think this proves my point on Aguilar. Whether he's above 0 WAR sans 2018 depends on whose WAR you're using I guess. Regardless, most of his value is from one season and its not super recent. I don't see the point for the As, unless it was to show they were capable of signing someone. They might as well have signed Roman Quinn for the min if that was the goal. He only loses half his career WAR if you remove his best year...also 2018....and has defensive value. He's also more likely to be hurt and not block a prospect you should be looking at....but, you at least tried signing a vet, right?

They might as well have signed Roman Quinn

Probably best not to have Jesus and a Roman in the same clubhouse, though. Could get messy.

The A's have always made signings like these. He's a veteran presence in the dugout to make sure guys don't get too down on themselves when they struggle. If it looks like Dermis Garcia or Jordan Diaz aren't ready then he'll get some AB's so they aren't too exposed. If they hit from day 1 the Aguilar is on the bench or pinch hitting. If the offense breaks out (don't laugh too hard) he can be traded or released at the deadline.

Fair enough and thanks for the info but

a) Brown is average, turning 30, LHB, got nearly as many starts in the OF last year as 1B, including 15 in CF so I assume he's not an embarrassment out there (but it is the A's).

b) Diaz is 22, played mostly 3B in the minors and (in his cup of coffee) mostly 2B in the majors. Surely the A's are going to see if he can cut it at one of those spots before making him a DH at 22? It's not like he's hit like Alvarez, more hopeful he's the next Arraez.

c) Garcia is a minor-league TTO type with a 30% K-rate but just 25 and also RHB so he might lose some PA to Aguilar.

Generally looks to me like Aguilar is there to take most of Browns PAs vs LHP or when he's in the OF. But sure, don't let him stop you from finding out if Garcia can be a ML TTO type. But there are 250 PA here for an Aguilar type with no threat of taking those PAs away from somebody else.

that's an overpay for aguilar but kind of whatever.
in other news...

a's just trade cole irvin with cole virbitsky for darell hernaiz, a shockingly low price. not that irvin is amazing, likely benefitted from playing in oakland + some luck - but the difference in how the two prospects are evaluated by third parties isn't huge (hernaiz ranks in the mid-to-late teens in a very strong orioles system, a ss with a decent bat but who will likely need to change positions as he moves up (second is my guess, bad arm), viribitsky was 29th for oakland in ba, unranked in a lot of other lists - he's hoping to turn into cole irvin) whereas irvin looks like a cheap (pre-arb) roughly league average starting pitcher.

Signing Aguilar to a mild-overpay deal and then trading innings-munching quasi-ace Irvin (he is their best SP) traded for marginal prospect spare parts from the Os. I mean, the Os system is deep now. But, combined there two things make zero sense.

Maybe the As should just accept being a farm for 26-30 year old "busted prospects" with an occasional development success of their own and just be it and sell the guys for cash, rather than scraps.