You’ve gotta love the blog world - The Future of A’s Baseball got this from Scout.com, who got it from Baseball America. And I got it from TFOAB.

The blogosphere is just one huge collection of ‘borrowed data’, ain’t it? 

So here it is, without further ado, the list of A’s minor leaguers who have played their time, are now officially unprotected, and can sign with other teams if an offer comes their way.

Vancouver fans need not get too worried, as only two former Canadians are listed, and one of those only played one game:

1B Nate Espy
3B Scott McClain
SS Ron Merrill
OF Matt Allegra (2001 - .220 BA, 11HR)
RHP John Birtwell
RHP David Bradley
RHP Kenny Durost
RHP Victor Moreno
RHP Kevin Olsen
RHP Brandon Puffer
RHP Alex Santos
RHP Eric Sheridan (2006 - 0-0, 0.00, 1.2IP)
LHP Ray Aguilar
LHP Heath Castle
LHP Seth Epstein
LHP Adam Pettyjohn
LHP Mark Watson

Know how many of these guys the A’s wanna keep?

"There’s a lot of oooold guys up there" - Keith Lieppman, A’s farm director, on the A’s Triple-A team, to me during the final weeks of season 2006.

How old? Well this is Brandon Puffer’s transaction sheet:

Drafted - Selected by Minnesota Twins in 27th Round (743rd overall) of 1994 amateur entry draft (June-Reg)  Jun 10,1994 - signed 

May 6,1996 - Released by Twins. 

May 28,1996 - Signed as Free Agent by Angels.  Dec 15,1997 - Released by Angels. 

Jan 14,1998 - Signed as Free Agent by Reds.  Oct 16,1998 - Granted Free Agency. 

Nov 17,1998 - Signed as Free Agent by Reds.  Oct 15,1999 - Granted Free Agency. 

Nov 18,1999 - Signed as Free Agent by Rockies.  May 18,2000 - Released by Rockies.

May 1,2000 - Signed by independent Somerset (Atlantic)   

Jul 17,2000 - Purchased by Astros from Somerset (Atlantic).  Nov 19,2003 - Released by Astros. 

Jan 7,2004 - Signed as Free Agent by Padres. 

Jul 2,2004 - Purchased by Red Sox from Padres.  Oct 15,2004 - Granted Free Agency. 

Dec 15,2004 - Signed as Free Agent by Giants.

And that doesn’t even include 2005-6.

If any of these guys turn up in Sacramento next year, it’ll be a surprise.