A's snare three top prospects for Swisher

OAKLAND -- Nick Swisher initially gained attention as a central figure in "Moneyball," Michael Lewis' best-selling account of the A's cost-efficient methods of obtaining and evaluating players.

Thursday, Swisher became the protagonist in an entirely new tale -- Oakland's extensive effort to replenish its talent base.

The A's rebuilding process accelerated as they traded Swisher to the Chicago White Sox for two top pitching prospects, left-hander Gio Gonzalez and right-hander Fautino De Los Santos, and outfielder Ryan Sweeney.

In explaining the deal, A's general manager Billy Beane repeated the rationale that he cited last month when ace right-hander Dan Haren was traded to Arizona: Since the Minor League system was depleted and the ballclub appeared to have little chance of contending in the near future, Oakland would need to build a new foundation by trading star performers for promising youngsters.

Combined with the Haren trade, the A's have acquired nine prospects, all age 24 or younger. Beane hinted that more significant moves were possible, which was why he declined to speculate on the A's outfield alignment sans Swisher.

"I like to think we've taken a significant jump ... by virtue of those two trades," Beane said. "... The fact of the matter is, whether you agree or disagree, our status quo as we stood going into the season was mediocrity, at best. If it's perceived as taking a step back, we want to take a step back with a chance of being very, very good for a long time. The cost of indecision for us would be a bigger mistake."

A's owner Lew Wolff praised Beane's initiative. "I will certainly miss Nick Swisher," Wolff said. "But, we spent almost $80 million last year on payroll, and we didn't want to just cross our fingers and hope we'd be better this year. Billy's building for the future but hasn't torn the team apart. I honestly think we'll be better. We'll certainly be faster and younger."

Five of the nine acquisitions are pitchers, including four left-handers. That's by design. "The best chance for longterm success is to have pitching you've developed that you can have for a long time," Beane said, noting that should the A's succeed with their revamped personnel, they won't have to make trades like this in upcoming seasons.

"It's no fun doing this, from an emotional standpoint," Beane said.

The 27-year-old Swisher was among the most popular A's, besides being one of their most prolific hitters in his three full seasons. His 80 home runs established a franchise record for switch-hitters and his .361 on-base percentage ranks ninth in Oakland history. Just last May, Swisher appeared to entrench himself with the A's by signing a five-year, $26.75 million contract extension.

Beane said that parting with the jovial Swisher was "very difficult" and insisted that the move was not a salary dump. "This was about trying to acquire as much talent in bulk as we can," Beane said.

Swisher understood.

"Oakland was a great spot for me. I have no hard feelings," said the outfielder, Oakland's first of seven first- or supplemental-round picks from the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, thereafter known as the "Moneyball" Draft. "Billy Beane gave me my shot and he's a genius. He knows what he's doing ... He's got a game plan and [is] going to stick to that."

Swisher was munching on breakfast with his mother in Columbus, Ohio, when he received word of the trade.

"It definitely was a little surprising," said Swisher, who hit .262 with 22 home runs and 78 RBIs last season. "An unknown caller came up on my phone, I picked it up and little did I know the phone call would change my life."

Beane said that the A's weren't actively shopping Swisher. But, he added that the White Sox, who failed in their efforts to sign free-agent outfielders Aaron Rowand and Torii Hunter, began "pushing the envelope" in the last two weeks. Beane resisted the White Sox's entreaties until they sweetened their proposal -- by including Gonzalez and De Los Santos, from all indications.

Gonzalez, 22, led the Minor Leagues with 185 strikeouts while finishing 9-7 with a 3.18 ERA in 27 starts at Double-A Birmingham last season. This marks the third time he has been traded in three years, apparently because somebody always wants him: He amassed 577 strikeouts in 492 1/3 Minor League innings and has limited opposing hitters to a .221 average. Gonzalez's breaking ball is considered his best pitch, although his fastball and changeup are considered above-average.

Beane declined to assign a timetable to Gonzalez's arrival in the Majors, though the GM said, "Given his age and performance he had at that high level, you'd like to say he's pretty close."

De Los Santos, 21, was named the South Atlantic League's Most Outstanding Major League Prospect last year while posting a 9-4 record with a 2.40 ERA and a .148 opponents' average in 21 games (15 starts) at Class A Kannapolis. Gifted with a fastball that he can push into the high 90-mph range, he struck out 121 while walking just 36, earning a promotion to high-A Winston-Salem for five starts. A member of the World Team in the 2007 Futures Game, De Los Santos owned a combined record was 10-5, 2.65.

"Guys who've achieved that much, even at a lower level, have a chance to move pretty quick," Beane said.

Sweeney, named the White Sox's No. 1 prospect by Baseball America entering last season, will receive an opportunity to compete for the outfield vacancy created by Swisher's departure. A left-handed batter, Sweeney hit .270 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in 105 games at Triple-A Charlotte.