No move could be a good move for A's

OAKLAND -- As players were being swapped like cardboard gods at a trade show, the A's were all quiet on the deadline front. Oakland clearly has a need to address at shortstop, but the price wasn't right. A's shortstops are batting a combined .191 with a .254 on-base percentage and just 24 RBIs -- they rank last in the American League in all three of those categories. On the flip side of the equation, Oakland is 34-16 since June 2 -- making them the hottest team in baseball. The A's also clinched a franchise best July record, going 19-4 this month with one game to play. They weren't exactly desperate to make a move. If it ain't broke don't fix it. The A's have made a staggering amount of roster moves this season and the team is just now starting to gel -- both in the clubhouse and on the field. The results are showing in the standings. The team is 10 games over .500 and in the thick of the A.L. playoff race. I've been writing, saying, tweeting, emailing for months that the best course of action would be for the A's to stand pat. Not panicking keeps the A's in tact and doesn't sacrifice the farm system. Don't blame the ownership for the A's making a move, they tried. Adding payroll wasn't the main reason the A's didn't make a trade. Their payroll is around 52M this season. It was as high as 67M in 2011, and 79M in 2007. The ownership has stated they have payroll flexibility. According to reports Oakland was willing to part with much more in terms of players than the Dodgers were for Hanley Ramirez. Except L.A. decided to eat his contract and the Marlins did what was best for their pocketbooks, rather than what was best for their franchise. That might have been the A's best chance to shore up the left side of their infield. Their best fit could have been Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar. He has a very reasonable contract that earns him 5M per year through 2014 with a 5M club option for 2015 as well. The Jays have a shortstop prospect named Adeiny Hechavarria knocking on the door, so they could have afforded to move Escobar in order to stock up elsewhere. Alameda native Jimmy Rollins would have been an interesting addition but he is well liked in Philadelphia. He also has a burdensome contract and is trending downward statistically year by year. He is owed 22M through 2014, and has a vesting option for 2015. The 2015 option is worth 11M more if he is able to reach certain performance incentives. Stephen Drew wasn't a fantastic fit for the A's who want to win now. He is still getting back into the swing of things after a serious ankle injury that forced him to miss the last two months of 2011, and didn't return to the Diamondbacks lineup until June 27 this season.The A's did address their catching situation in a minor trade by acquiring left-handed hitter George Kottaras. He will be used in a catching platoon with Kurt Suzuki. The A's newest catcher has some power and gets on-base effectively. July 31 merely marks the end of the non-waiver trade deadline. The A's can still make moves. It just becomes slightly more complicated. What do you think? Are you upset the A's didn't make any major moves?