They also just cleared a pretty decent amount of payroll. Couple that with the five million or so they had to play with before the season even started, and then they have space to make a pretty significant move if they so choose. Okay, I just had a chance to look at the numbers, and I don't see Oakland clearing any payroll. A's send: Byrnes= 2.2 million Bradford= 1.4 million Total= 3.6 million A's recieve: Payton= 3.5 million Kennedy= 2.2 million Witasick= .316 million Cash= -? Total= 6.016 million - cash from Boston So in order to free up any payroll, they need to get at least 2.5+ million from Boston. So even if the Red Sox pay all of Payton's salary, Oakland doesn't free up more than a million(500k in essence since half has been paid) in payroll. I wish I'd read ahead, and saved myself the effort on this stuff. EDIT: According to the report from the A's site, the Red Sox sent some cash in their deal, and the A's sent some cash to Colorado in their deal.