San Francisco Gate blog “The Drumbeat“, writes

“ARod staying a Yankee, Bonds likely to be unsignable — have been bad news for the Angels’ power hunt. Thus, the reasoning goes, a healthier A’s team could stay in the race in next year, and Billy Beane won’t be blowing it up after all.”

The Angels were interested in both players and will have to look elsewhere now to add power to their lineup. They’re now forced to decide if they will give up Howie Kendrick and prospects for the best power hitter left on the market, Miguel Cabrera.

Kendrick who was rated the 12th best prospect in the minor leagues in 2006 by Baseball America. Kendrick hit .285 with 4 HR 30 RBI in his 2007 rookie season.

Beane had said at the GM meetings, as reported by Tom Verducci on SI.com, that the Oakland A’s were ‘at a crossroads’ and he would decide on breaking up the team before the Winter Meetings on December 3rd.

“We’re either going forward and going for it or cutting it down and rebuilding. There is no middle ground in our market. When we hit the bottom, small market teams like us don’t bounce.”

The A’s would draw great interest in Dan Haren if he were made available. Haren was the starting pitcher for the American League in the 2007 All Star Game, and finished the season with a 15-9 record, 3.07 ERA, and 192 Ks in 222.7 innings.

In case you were wondering, Haren keeps a blog.