Eric

Byrnes

The A’s don’t need to dump Byrnes’ salary, but if the offer is good enough, they’ll let him go and use a platoon of Charles Thomas and Bobby Kielty in left field. Scott Hairston, Carlos Quentin and Conor Jackson are among the bats you can be certain the A’s are interested in.

The A’s don’t seem to need any more relievers, though a healthy Valverde would surely be an asset. They should be trying to add a couple of the Diamondbacks’ young hitters.

Jose Valverde never actually failed a physical, but the A’s were still scared off after reading the reports from his December shoulder surgery. Since the Mike Cameron talks seem to be dead, it appears possible that Byrnes will enter the season as the A’s primary left fielder.

The A’s likely started out by asking for Mike Gonzalez, a price that Pittsburgh shouldn’t pay. A deal for pitching prospects could be a possibility.

The Pirates apparently have agreed on a list of players from which the Athletics would choose two, and the trade could be finalized next week. Assuming that reliever Mike Gonzalez was unavailable, the A’s could have targeted prospects like LHP Tom Gorzelanny, OF Nate McLouth and C/OF J.R. House. If Byrnes goes, the A’s will use a platoon of Charles Thomas and Bobby Kielty in left field.

Macha may get creative and rotate several of his position players, giving different players days off and working the principals in and out of the lineup. If performance (and lack thereof) means anything, it should be Terrence Long who loses the most at-bats to Dye’s return.

Byrnes went 2-for-3 and scored the winning run Thursday. Manager Ken Macha said, ''Byrnes basically won the game by leading off and getting a hit. He has an opportunity here to do something.’' With Dye an injury risk, and Chris Singleton and Terrence Long not exactly superstars, Byrnes could play himself into an opportunity, making him an intriguing reserve in AL-only leagues.

Byrnes didn’t suffer a concussion, so he should be OK for Opening Day.

Macha told the other five (Jermaine Dye, Chris Singleton, Terrence Long, Billy McMillon, Adam Piatt) that they will rotate between the remaining two spots until someone steps up as Byrnes did when he got his chance. There’s little doubt Dye will eventually claim one of the spots when he’s 100 percent, but he and Byrnes are the only A’s outfielders with any fantasy value at the moment.

Byrnes will get a one-year deal worth $2 million or a little more. It’s not going to have an impact on trade talks.