Barry Zito

Maybe Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane isn't the genius we all thought he was. The A's signed free agent pitcher Esteban Loaiza to a 3-year, $21-million contract yesterday. So much for Moneyball and fiscal sanity by the Bay. The Loaiza signing means that A's lefthanded starter and former Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito could (and should) be available. With the Red Sox rebuilding their starting rotation, maybe Boston and Oakland could become trading partners. Beane has admired Boston's Kevin Youkilis ever since Youkilis made his mark as an on-base "machine" while in the minor leagues. In Michael Lewis' Moneyball, Beane went so far as to call Youkilis the "Greek God of Walks." With Oakland parting ways with Scott Hatteberg, Youkilis could fit in as the A's first baseman. Another piece to this trade could be Bronson Arroyo. Arroyo is a cheap, effective end-of-the-rotation starter who would give the A's much needed innings. Imagine Zito in a rotation with Curt Schilling, Josh Beckett, Tim Wakefield and either Matt Clement or Jonathan Papelbon. It's something that could be a reality.