Trade that should happen

Kansas City sends Emil Brown and David Riske to Oakland for 1B Daric Barton.

The A’s may balk at giving up Barton as he is MLB ready and will contend for a starting job in the infield next season, but this summer to get quality you have to give quality as it is a seller’s market.

Brought over in the Mark Mulder trade from St. Louis, Barton has been tearing things up in triple-A Sacramento with a .323 average and 6 homers and 49 RBI to go with a great walk to strikeout ratio of 44/38. Barton would get immediate playing time in Kansas City as Ryan Shealy hasn’t been the answer and is now on the DL. Barton would also form a great duo with Alex Gordon on the corners for years to come in K.C.

If Oakland refuses on Barton, K.C. could also ask for Travis Buck or Michael Madsen but again, that is a steep price for the A’s to pay.

Oakland would get some immediate bullpen help as Riske has been a quality arm for the Royals from the pen’ all season. Emil Brown would bring some pop to a lineup that lacks it.

Overall, this trade works well for both teams and if Oakland doesn’t want to give up one of their upper-echelon prospects, I’m sure another team wouldn’t mind, as good strong bullpen help is near impossible to find at this time of year.