21-year old righty swinging outfielder Michael Choice came into this season as the A’s #3 prospect according to Baseball America and he’s showing why in the minors this year. Choice has played in 100 games in A-ball so far this year and he is 115 for 397 (.290 avg, .951 OPS) with 73 runs scored, 28 homers, 71 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. He has now played in 130 games in his first 2 years in the minors and he is 144 for 506 (.285 avg, .954 OPS) with 94 runs scored, 35 homers, 97 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. Choice is going to likely be put on the fast track to Oakland as long as he keeps raking like he is right now.

The A’s have dealt 30-year old righty swinging outfielder Matt Carson to the Rays likely for cash considerations. Carson played in 90 games in AAA-ball for the A’s this year and he was 105 for 368 (.285 avg, .876 OPS) with 61 runs scored, 19 homers, 65 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Carson played in parts of two years with the A’s. He played in 46 games for the A’s and he was 20 for 100 (.200 avg, .580 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 5 homers, 14 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Carson didn’t have a future in Oakland, so they did him a favor by dealing him to Tampa.

33-year old righty reliever Willie Eyre has opted out of his minor league deal with the A’s and he has become a free agent. Eyre pitched in 39 games (2 starts) in AAA-ball for the A’s this year and he is 4-5 with 9 saves, a 3.48 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Eyre has pitched in 92 games (2 starts) in parts of three years in the majors and he is 5-6 with 1 save, a 5.14 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. The A’s aren’t going to miss Eyre as they are loaded in the bullpen.

26-year old lefty swinging outfielder Jermaine Mitchell has been recently promoted to AAA as he’s starting to open some eyes in the A’s organization. Mitchell has played in 79 games in AA+AAA-ball so far this year and he is 116 for 328 (.354 avg, 1.026 OPS) with 71 runs scored, 10 homers, 53 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. He also has an amazing 13 triples so far this year. Mitchell has now played in 594 games in his first six years in the minors and he is 627 for 2,205 (.284 avg, .812 OPS) with 376 runs scored, 44 homers, 262 RBIs and 120 stolen bases. If Mitchell keeps playing and hitting the way he is right now, he could get his way to Oakland by the end of the 2011 season.

29-year old righty swinging 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff played in 46 games for the A’s this year and he was 30 for 136 (.221 avg, .615 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 4 homers, 17 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. That got Kouzmanoff banished to AAA. But, he seems to be in a groove right now at the plate. Kouzmanoff has played in 20 games in AAA-ball so far this year and he is 25 for 81 (.309 avg, .925 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 4 homers and 23 RBIs. I think the A’s are going to try like heck to deal Kouzmanoff this month. He isn’t needed anymore with the A’s as 26-year old righty swinging Scott Sizemore has taken over his old job. Sizemore has played in 21 games since coming over to the A’s and he is 24 for 70 (.343 avg, .895 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 2 homers and 10 RBIs.