A's start playoff push
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Jermaine Dye's parents might not have moved away from Vacaville, Calif., a few months ago if they had known their son was coming home.
Dye was traded to the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday in a three-team, five-player deal. Shortstop Neifi Perez went from Colorado to Kansas City, with three A's minor-leaguers going to the Rockies.
The A's went to their favorite farm team -- the Royals -- to acquire Dye, a power-hitting outfielder who won a Gold Glove last season. The deal practically guarantees Oakland will hang on to its talented core of players to make a serious run at the postseason.
After engineering his latest complicated trade, Oakland general manager Billy Beane said he hopes Dye can provide some of the offensive spark the A's have lacked.
"We got a player that was a sought-after commodity," Beane said. "We've tried to get him since spring training, but we kept getting rejected. But this time of year creates this kind of forum. It's like Christmas."
Oakland gave up Jose Ortiz -- thought last spring to be the A's next starting second baseman -- along with outfielder Mario Encarnacion and left-hander Todd Belitz.
Dye is the third starting outfielder/designated hitter the A's have acquired from Kansas City in the last two seasons, joining Johnny Damon and Jeremy Giambi. Oakland also has traded backup catchers with the Royals this season.
"I can't believe that we got him," said Damon, who has talked up Dye's skills to Beane ever since arriving in Oakland last winter.
"He's an amazing ballplayer. I'm so excited for Jermaine getting out of K.C. Now, the two of us are back together. This outfield could be the best in baseball."
Dye graduated from high school in Vacaville, a suburban town between Oakland and Sacramento. Dye's parents moved recently, but he grew up a San Francisco Giants fan, because his bus-driver father often took him to Candlestick Park to watch batting practice.
"It's really exciting to come back to California, especially with a team that's in the race," Dye said.