" After trading two All-Star starters in a two-week period - Gio Gonzalez to Washington in a deal completed Friday, Trevor Cahill to Arizona earlier in the month - A's general manager Billy Beane said the team is trying to parlay established stars into a core of good young players for a potential new stadium.

The A's have yet to gain approval for any new venue, but Beane reiterated Friday that he believes that a decision will come soon. Until then, Beane said, Oakland cannot realize sustained success in the AL West.

"There wasn't going be a move we could make to compete with Texas and Anaheim," Beane said, noting that both will have payrolls in the $175 million range. "Just to come up to Seattle, we'd have to spend an extra $40-50 million.""