When, Not If, the Athletics Trade Ryon Healy...
The last thing Oakland A's fans want to hear right now is that a young, cost-controllable, and exciting fan favorite is going to be traded. Sorry everybody - it's going to happen. The question is now: *When* will the A's front office trade Ryon Healy?
We begin with what we know. Ryon Healy was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 3rd round of the 2013 MLB Draft. Healy profiles as a first baseman and designated hitter, but also has experience playing third base. Entering his age 26 season, he has a slash line of .282/.313/.475 with 38 home runs and 115 RBIs over 221 games at the major league level. He's quickly become a fan-favorite with his play on the field and his attitude off the field. Lastly, as Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports, the A's have apparently placed Ryon Healy on the trade block.
What else do we know about Ryon Healy's situation with the Oakland Athletics? He's blocked at third base by the likes of Matt Chapman and blocked at first base by the very tall and very strong Matt Olson and (should be) blocked at designated hitter by the powerful Khris Davis. Although he's spent much of his time with the A's playing the role of designated hitter, the A's would be a better overall club if Davis was the full-time DH and left field was left in the hands of a more capable defensive option.
Obviously, the situation I've just laid out presents a problem (albeit a good problem to have): Where does Ryon Healy fit in? The Athletics are, in my opinion, in a rather good position to be in. They have some very talented young players who have made their way through the minor leagues and are now (or are about to be) impact players in Oakland. Those players include Healy, Chapman, Olson, as well as Chad Pinder, Franklin Barreto, Dustin Fowler, and Jaycob Brugman. I could go on.
The answer to the question I posed above is: He doesn't. Healy is, unfortunately, an A's player on an A's team that will sooner or later struggle to find a place for him to find regular playing time. And no, Healy shouldn't platoon with Matt Olson - that takes playing time away from a guy who slugged 24 home runs in 59 games. No, the A's shouldn't put Healy in left field - 1) he wouldn't have the range 2) he doesn't have the arm 3) there are other players in the farm system that are better fits for left field. And no, the A's shouldn't just keep Healy around because there's good chemistry with him in the clubhouse - if the *only* reason Healy shouldn't be traded is that his departure could disrupt clubhouse chemistry, I'll take that risk. (And before you mention Yoenis Cespedes, that trade was bad because Yoenis was/is a ridiculously talented middle of the order bat, one that the A's could not begin to try replicating with Adam Dunn or Jonny Gomes.)
The A's have a great opportunity here to cash in on something every other team wants: a young, cost-controllable player with power to drive the ball to all fields. The return for Healy could benefit the A's 25-man roster in 2018 and beyond, and in such a way that Healy just wouldn't be able to given his lack of a position on the diamond.
Let's track how the dominos would fall: 1) A's trade Ryon Healy. 2) Khris Davis becomes full time DH. 3) Matt Olson becomes full time first baseman. 4) Playing time opens up for someone who has the ability to play a solid defensive left field. 5) Either the Athletics farm system becomes deeper thanks to the player(s) acquired in Healy trade OR the Athletics bullpen becomes deeper thanks to the player(s) acquired in the Healy trade. 6) The A's win the World Series.
... Okay that last one was just for fun, but the rest of it is legit. Imagine the Healy trade acting somewhat like the Yonder Alonso trade did: Opening up playing time for MLB-ready talent already in the A's system AND acquiring necessary depth in an area of need for the team.
It makes sense on a lot of levels. So like I said, it's not about *if* ... it's about *when*.