The A's have talented young position players, but their rebuilding has a ceiling with no cellar; in other words, they rebuilt from the top down -- opposite of most of the successful blueprints that pour a foundation with...
... Starting Pitching.
The frequently last place Red Sox did it that way by finally acquiring their Crochet. Even the Boston champs from earlier this century knew the value of trading for a Pedro or Schill or Beckett or Sale. Start with an ace, then add another ace to put you over the top.
Ranger Suarez anyone? Sonny Gray? It's folly to say they're the best when they haven't even played together yet, and the Dodgers have Cy Youngs from all over the world. But Boston's Big Three Arms -- if they can just maintain their past professionalism, will be tough to beat.
Here's a spin on your team-for-team trade proposal: while most of us (you and I, at least) would trade the Red Sox regulars for the A's regulars, would you swap entire 26-man rosters? I would venture to guess 99% of Talksox wouldn't... but maybe 98% of A's fans.