Why Aren’t the A’s Offering Dallas Braden a Contract?

Two words: Organizational depth

Two more words: Incentive laden

There are no reasons for the A’s not to sign Dallas Braden to a minor-league incentive laden contract with an invitation to Spring Training. The worst case scenario? He is unhealthy and doesn’t perform. More realistic scenario? He is mediocre and slings slop for the River Cats until June when he is let go as a stipulation in his contract letting him go if not called up. Best case scenario? He makes it onto the MLB roster and serves as a quality and capable fourth starter innings eater and mentor to the young pitchers.

Billy Beane has said the 25-man roster is complete, so I will stop my Free Agent Target series because I’d have just done Kyle Lohse (pluses: he is good, negatives: draft pick loss and he is expensive) and Joe Saunders (pluses: he is durable, negatives: isn’t amazing) and it is clear the A’s have no intention of adding frontline(ish) pitching. But why not Braden? Cheap? All upside? Good story? Don’t see any reason not to on my end.