Terrence Long

He's the Padres' problem now, much to the relief of the Green and Gold.

Can't play centerfield and the A's know it. He's also regressing at the plate, to the point where he didn't even hit righties very well (a .694 OPS) last season. Given the benefit of hindsight, the A's would tell you his contract (four years, $11.6 million that runs through 2005) was a mistake. They'll need all the loose change they can get to keep Miguel Tejada in Oakland, something that could result in jettisoning Long elsewhere. Some see a Garret Anderson career-path, and there might have been a legitimate reason for it before last year's stinker. There's just nothing to take from last year to build on, apart from a decent mini-stretch in June.