Do the A's really need a Right Handed Batting Power Hitter?

[anna]

There have been rumors and speculation that the A's are willing to trade everyone from Joe Blanton to Daric Barton (!!!) for a right handed batting slugger to face " big bad lefties ". This talk scares me!

If the 2008 A's succed in beating up on right handed pitchers with the "Barton-Cust-Chavez gang" i dare opposing teams to come up with quality left handed pitchers to slow them down! Are opposing teams going to overwork their 2 or 3 lefties when facing the A's? The A's know to inflate an opposing pitcher's pitch count! Are opposing teams going to call up unseasoned minor league southpaws when facing the A's?? Bring 'em on!! I predict the A's getting the better of this too! From the right side the A's already have Mark Ellis and Switch hitter Nick Swisher! Maybe Shannon Stewart will be resigned too.

I hope this "southpaw phobia" doesn't cause the A's to make a bad trade!

[Zito75]

There have been rumors and speculation that the A's are willing to trade everyone from Joe Blanton to Daric Barton (!!!) for a right handed batting slugger to face " big bad lefties ". This talk scares me!

If the 2008 A's succed in beating up on right handed pitchers with the "Barton-Cust-Chavez gang" i dare opposing teams to come up with quality left handed pitchers to slow them down! Are opposing teams going to overwork their 2 or 3 lefties when facing the A's? The A's know to inflate an opposing pitcher's pitch count! Are opposing teams going to call up unseasoned minor league southpaws when facing the A's?? Bring 'em on!! I predict the A's getting the better of this too! From the right side the A's already have Mark Ellis and Switch hitter Nick Swisher! Maybe Shannon Stewart will be resigned too.

I hope this "southpaw phobia" doesn't cause the A's to make a bad trade!

Man, I don't know. I think Beane will make a move or too, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Blanton or Street go. Just as long as Haren stays put we should be fine unless he pulls another Milton Bradley deal.

As far as righties go, who's available? Any free agents you can think of?