2011 MLB Trade Rumors: Teams Interested in Athletics Grant Balfour

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that teams have expressed interest in trading for Oakland Athletics reliever Grant Balfour.  Now that the A’s have sent closer Andrew Bailey to the Red Sox, Balfour is one of the stronger candidates to close games for Oakland next season.

Now that the A’s have shipped out three of their top pitchers, many thought they may be done their dealing for the offseason.  Oakland has brought in a boatload of young talent and will eventually have to field a major league team for the 2012 season.

Still, the A’s have several veteran players that figure to be had this winter.  One of the more popular names being floated as a trade candidate is Grant Balfour.

In his first season with the A’s, Balfour maintained an ERA and WHIP of 2.47 and 1.032 while posting a SO/9 of 8.6 to go with his BB/9 of 2.9.  Over the last four seasons as a member of the A’s and Rays, Balfour has turned in a 2.85 ERA.

Balfour is also 34-years-old and set to make $4 million next season.  Neither of these numbers would seem to fit with the current Oakland Athletics, and a solid veteran late-inning reliever is a luxury for a team such as the A’s.

Still, the A’s may look to plug Balfour into their closer’s role and increase his trade value even more before shipping him out next summer or winter.

For more on the Athletics, be sure to check out Swingin’ A’s.