The A’s aren’t trading Sonny Gray or Josh Reddick. Sorry!

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It’s the offseason, so teams with prospects to trade and holes to fill will inevitably hope the A’s are in a giving mood. Former GM and new president of baseball operations Billy Beane is already squashing those dreams, though, as he told Peter Gammons that he “just can’t see” Oakland dealing ace Sonny Gray or outfielder Josh Reddick. Given Beane’s history of trading talented players -- most recently MVP candidate Josh Donaldson -- you can probably believe him, as it’s more to Oakland’s benefit to quietly deal these guys than to say you won’t only to change course.

Gray would bring in a serious haul were he to be traded, but if the A’s are going to compete anytime soon, they are going to need a Sonny Gray type, anyway: the cheapest available one is the Gray they already have. As for Reddick, while he’s a free agent much sooner than Gray, the A’s have reportedly been discussing an extension to keep their Gold Glove outfielder around. While he struggled at the plate in 2013, he’s otherwise been a well above-average hitter and high-quality defensive presence in Oakland. Both are and will be key pieces for the team going forward, especially since Gray is all of 26 next season and Reddick will be just 29.

Maybe there is a deal out there that makes Beane change his mind about dealing Gray, but you would have to imagine that the haul would be one that immediately turns the A’s into contenders again. It seems unlikely anyone would give up such a package, since Gray is the kind of piece you add in order to contend in the first place. It’s easier to envision Reddick being dealt if the A’s can’t come to terms with him, but there have been no reports suggesting that’s the direction the two sides are heading. For now, it’s easier to believe that both are staying put so they can be part of the next successful Oakland squad.