Kemp, Laureano show value before Trade Deadline

SAN FRANCISCO -- The A's are headed out of town for a week after Wednesday night's 8-3 loss at Oracle Park that secured a two-game sweep at the hands of the Giants to open this season's edition of the Bay Bridge Series.

When they return to the Bay Area, more likely than not, the A's roster will look rather different, as the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline is rapidly approaching.

Oakland has fewer notable trade chips than in previous years, but the club has a few veterans that might draw the interest of contenders. Two of those veterans -- Tony Kemp and Ramón Laureano -- may have raised their stock with promising showings in Wednesday's loss.

Kemp matched his season high with three hits -- all singles -- and swiped a bag in the first inning vs. Giants backstop Patrick Bailey, who entered the day ranked sixth in caught stealing above average among 61 qualified Major League catchers.

The 31-year-old Kemp is an athletic defender in both the infield and outfield, though he isn't particularly known for his arm. He flashed his potential on Wednesday, though, making an impressive throw to cut down Brett Wisely at second base to put an end to an eighth inning in which the Giants had poured on three insurance runs.

"You look at Tony tonight, and that's an example of him getting after it," manager Mark Kotsay said. "Hustle single, beating out the ball in the infield, diving into first base. The throw he made defensively. Even though the game got out of hand there, he still continues to play hard and play the right way."

Laureano, making his first start since being activated from the injured list Tuesday, went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. He's been below average at the plate this year, due in part to two IL stints that have limited him to 58 games, but defense has always been his calling card.

The second inning of Wednesday's loss provided an immediate reminder of what the A's had been missing with Laureano on the shelf. With one out, San Francisco's Mike Yastrzemski laced a base hit down the right-field line and began to round first base -- until Laureano stopped him in his tracks with a bullet to second, holding him to a single.

One batter later, Laureano backed up all the way to the right-field wall to rob rookie shortstop Marco Luciano of what would have likely been his first big league hit.

"It's great having guys you have confidence [in] behind you," said right-hander Freddy Tarnok, who opened the game and allowed three runs in 2 2/3 innings in his first Major League start. "It helps you pitch, helps you throw strikes, helps you not be afraid to let your pitches get hit. That's always a confidence booster, having those guys behind you."

Though the departures of Kemp and Laureano would rob the team of a reliable veteran duo, it would also open up playing opportunities in the outfield for Oakland's up-and-comers.

JJ Bleday, in particular, is building a case to get regular playing time. The 25-year-old outfielder has taken over in center field in the absence of rookie Esteury Ruiz, whose return is imminent, as he is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.

A recent swing adjustment has put Bleday in a better place, as he entered Wednesday slugging .529 in 11 games after the All-Star break. His one-out double in the fourth inning set the table for the A's to put up a three-spot and tie the game, though Oakland did not score again beyond that frame.

Through 104 games this season, the A's still have yet to reach 30 wins, but the young talent that is beginning to rise to the big leagues has been a source of excitement in an otherwise disappointing season. That youth movement will likely be in full swing once the Deadline has passed.

"It doesn't really show up in the box scores, but you can tell by how the guys have been preparing each day that they're just becoming pros each and every day," Kemp said prior to Wednesday's loss. "They're putting in the work. I feel like that's the biggest thing you can do, is come to the field with a good attitude and put the work in, and that's what a lot of these younger guys have been doing."