With most work done, A's expect quiet Winter Meetings

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The A's worked in fast fashion last week, reeling in five players in four separate moves in a matter of two days, so it's of no real surprise they're not exactly zealous to get another deal done this week at the Winter Meetings, which conclude Thursday.

The majority of Oakland's front-office members, including general manager Billy Beane, arrived at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort on Monday evening, while most other clubs' officials landed Sunday. That left little time for work to be done.

"Obviously we haven't been here very long and we did a lot of our work last week, but that doesn't mean we don't still have ongoing conversations with clubs and agents," said A's assistant general manager David Forst. "We feel really good about the team and the things we did last week and where we're at, but we always still look to make some tweaks and make some changes."

Last week brought about enough to fill an entire offseason, as the club reeled in starter Scott Kazmir on a two-year, $22 million deal in advance of trades for closer Jim Johnson, reliever Luke Gregerson, and perhaps the most valuable part-time player in the game in speedy outfielder Craig Gentry.

Their Major League roster now essentially in place, barring what would likely be minor adjustments, the two-time defending American League West champion A's may now turn their focus on helping their farm system, in part depleted because of the loss of top outfield prospect Michael Choice in the Gentry trade and the promotion of top pitching prospect Sonny Gray to the Majors.

"You never feel like you have enough," said Forst. "I don't know the best way right now to supplement that, but obviously there is a gap in guys we see contributing in the immediate future. I don't know that we'll get four or five prospects no matter what we trade."

But the A's have potential to land one or two key pieces should they opt to move lefty Brett Anderson.

The southpaw, making $8 million in 2014, is one of seven starters occupying the A's rotation, making him expendable. However, Anderson's medicals could potentially be cause for concern for interested teams. The Rockies are already one known club who inquired heavily on the oft-injured lefty, but backed off a bit when scouring medical reports that indicated Anderson's stress fracture in his right foot may not be completely healed.

Multiple A's sources said Monday there was absolutely no worry over the foot at season's end. Still, Anderson's track record -- health issues, including Tommy John surgery in 2011, have limited him to only 163 innings over the last three seasons -- could prevent other teams from pulling the trigger on a potential risk.

Forst said the team is "having ongoing conversations" when asked about potential trades, only generalizing on the topic.

"Free agents are expensive, there's no doubt about that," he said, "and there are a lot of ongoing trade conversations on both ends -- teams that need starting pitchers and teams that have them. I think it's pretty active."

These talks could easily hasten as starters continue to fall off the free-agent market. But the A's are content staying pat for now, even as their AL West counterparts continue to add big names.

Forst joked he "could have done without [Robinson] Cano in our division," referring to the second baseman's impending $240 million pact with the Mariners, but also noted, "I would argue that our competitors have been doing that for more than just a couple of seasons."

"We fully expect to be outspent by everyone in the division," he said. "Obviously with the Astros now, it's not quite everybody. But I don't think that's anything new. We're really happy with the team we have now and the additions we've made, so we don't expect to keep up with them dollar for dollar, but to compete with them as we have the past two years."