No one even knew the A's were in the mix.
http://content.usatoday.com/communit...jose-stadium/1
Considering the A's did not enter serious negotiations for Cespedes until late, it's possible the prospect of another year with the majors' worst attendance – an average of a little over 18,000 at the decrepit Coliseum – persuaded Wolff to open the vault, which has $32 million in it from last year's revenue-sharing take.
But it's also quite likely general manager Billy Beane, who recently got a contract extension through 2019, saw a possible bargain in Cespedes.
Good win for the small market clubs.