It's definitely a steep price to pay if the reports are accurate, but paying it is obviously the only way they could move Kotsay, and it still represents a savings of about $2 million (less Devine's 2008 salary). As far as I know, the Braves were the only team really interested in gambling on Kotsay's health.

That takes us to your second question. Would the A's have gotten more for Kotsay in June if he was healthy and productive? Sure. But general manager Billy Beane's made it pretty clear lately how he feels about health-related "ifs." What if the A's kept Kotsay, hoping to trade him in June, and his back blew up in May? They'd be out about $7 million and end up getting nothing for Kotsay when he hit free agency; he probably wouldn't be classified high enough to net a compensatory Draft pick if he missed most of two consecutive seasons.

As for Street, a trade is obviously a possibility. Anything is a possibility at this point. But Beane has gone out of his way to note that Street is young enough (24) to be a part of a rebuilding process, and I know the A's talked to Street's agents last week, so a multi-year extension is still a possibility, too. No matter what happens, I can't imagine Devine entering the 2008 season as the closer. He's got a nice arm, but he still has plenty to prove.

Last week you were asked about the percentage of fans you've heard from who are in favor of the Nick Swisher trade. You said about 80 percent of them were against it. Has that percentage changed? And is it pretty much in line with the general sentiment among fans regarding the decision to rebuild?
-- Francis P., Los Altos, Calif.

I'd say the percentage is holding pretty steady on the Swisher front, but there's been a slight increase in the number of fans who say they're calming down and starting to understand what Beane's trying to do in general.

One of them is definitely not my 8-year-old niece, Meghan, who was so distraught by the Swisher trade that she circulated a petition among her friends in hopes of getting the trade voided. I'm going to forward it to Beane on her behalf, but I'm thinking she might have to just get used to the idea of rooting for Ryan Sweeney.

What's the latest on Rich Harden? The last I heard, he'd received a cortisone shot. Also, if the roster the A's have now remains intact through the spring, do you think he'll be one of the two pitchers to start against the Red Sox in the season-opening series in Japan? If so, how can he and the other guy -- I assume it's Joe Blanton -- be ready by March 25 if, as you reported last week, the A's aren't reporting for Spring Training any earlier than several other teams?
-- Vivian S., Scottsdale, Ariz.

Harden is in Phoenix, throwing with new bullpen coach Ron Romanick four times a week, and manager Bob Geren said the reports he's getting have been good. Geren also suggested very strongly -- without actually using the words -- that Harden and Blanton are, indeed, penciled in as the starting pitchers for the games against Boston in Japan. Penciled being the key word, obviously.

And while you're right about the A's not reporting any earlier than several teams, the first pitchers-and-catchers workout is set for Feb. 14, and that's actually a few days earlier than the they typically hold their first workout. Geren said he, pitching coach Curt Young and Romanick have already mapped out plans to have Harden and Blanton -- not necessarily in that order -- ready to go March 25-26 at the Tokyo Dome.

And for those of you who continue to ask me about how to get tickets for the games in Japan, thanks for your persistence. I still don't have any information other that what I gave you several weeks ago. The A's aren't handling the tickets for these games.

Have a question about the A's? E-mail your query to MLB.com A's beat reporter Jane Lee for possible inclusion in a future Inbox column. Letters may be edited for brevity, length and/or content. First Name, Last Initial: Hometown: Email Address: Question:

In your Around The Horn story about the catchers, you didn't mention Rob Bowen. I like Kurt Suzuki, but I also liked what I saw from Bowen in his limited playing time with the A's last year. Is he not signed for 2008? If he does come back, don't you think he should be given a long look at Spring Training as a starter instead of just handing the job to Suzuki?
-- Neal C., Oakland

I really like Bowen's game, too. Throw out his 10 forgettable games with the Cubs (2-for-31) and he had a pretty strong showing last season (34-for-125 with the Padres and A's). I like that he's a switch-hitter, I like his pop, and the pitchers like the way he handles them. I personally don't quite understand why the A's don't hold an open competition for the starting job at catcher this spring. Competition brings out the best in people and lets performance dictate playing time, reducing the risk for sour grapes on the part of someone who feels he deserves a shot but isn't getting one. That's just me, though, and I'm not saying I don't like Suzuki's game.

Bowen isn't officially signed with the A's for 2008, by the way, but that's a formality. He's not yet eligible for arbitration based on big league service time, so the A's control his rights, and such players typically aren't signed for the coming season until mid- to late January. In fact, I spoke with Rob on Monday, and he said he's expecting to sign soon and he's excited about heading to his first Spring Training with the A's.

We need some levity. Any funny e-mails or stories to share?
-- Kevin D., Rocklin, Calif.

Yes, I got two very funny e-mails last week, both in reference to my note about Beane's twins, who were born two weekends ago and are doing very well.

Bob Sylvia of Reno, Nev., sent me a message saying, "They'll be traded by the time they are 2 years old," and someone who didn't provide a name or hometown included the following in his list of predictions for the coming season: "Beane trades his new twins for 'prospects' in the hope his family can get younger and compete down the road." Classic.

I love your Around The Horn stories because they get me fired up about the reality that Spring Training is right around the corner, but in your most recent one, about the corner infielders, you wrote that Dan Johnson's on-base percentages in 2006 and 2007 were .381 and .418. That's a mistake, right? If that were the case, I don't think we'd be talking about Daric Barton so much.
-- Jesse R., Portland, Ore.

You were one of many fans who contacted me to point out the error, Jesse, and I do appreciate it. I was looking at the wrong column in Johnson's career stats chart -- the numbers I cited were his slugging percentages in those years. His on-base percentages were actually considerably lower, at .323 and .349 respectively. My apologies.

And before I finish up here, I should let you know that I'll be on the disabled list for a while starting next week. I'm going in for something called an "anterior cervical corpectomy" -- Google it if you'd like; good times -- that will force me to rock a big, ugly neck brace for six weeks or so, so I'll miss out on the joy that is watching PFP (pitchers' fielding practice) early in Spring Training. I'll be doing some writing from home in the meantime, though, so I won't be entirely out of the loop. Be kind to whoever covers for me, OK?