Did the Oakland A’s Make Too Drastic a Change to Once-Thriving Roster?

Change is the ultimate mixed bag. Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's inevitable and sometimes it backfires big time.

Just ask the Oakland Athletics, who reshuffled their roster this summer despite a stirring run of success, and have watched their lead in the American League West evaporate.

On July 5, Oakland engineered a deal with the Chicago Cubs that brought pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the East Bay for a handful of stud prospects.

At the time, the A's had a 3.5-game division edge over the Bleacher Report - Oakland Athletics
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