Jake Fox didn't have much value to the Chicago Cubs because of his defensive limitations -- that is, the fact that he doesn't play any position particularly well -- and the lack of a DH spot in which to play him much of the time. The Oakland Athletics do have that flexibility as well as an opportunity at first base, although with Chris Carter and Brett Wallace both banging on the door, Oakland is either looking very short-term with Fox or they're planning on putting one of these guys in the outfield. The A's have to take on Aaron Miles, who is lucky to be above replacement level in any year and was among the worst players to spend 2009 on a major-league roster. Adding his salary plus giving up a good reliever seems like a lot for Fox, who has 25+ home run power but has never had much patience and is going to have to either hit for average or improve his power further to be an everyday candidate at any position he can fake.
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