We have seen this story play out over and over again during Billy Beane's amazing run as the general manager of the Oakland Athletics. When all possible scenarios at a current position seem to have been exhausted, he hits an opposing player personnel executive in the noggin and shocks the baseball world. 

Will he do it again? 

Oakland declined the mutual option for the 2013 season on recently-acquired Stephen Drew. It then traded away Cliff Pennington in a package for centerfielder Chris Young. All of a sudden, the A's were left without a key component to one of the best defenses in MLB. Top prospect Grant Green has long been moved from the shortstop, while Oakland's other top prospect at that position; Addison Russell was drafted in 2012 and is at least three years away from even being a viable MLB player. 

No, this doesn't seem like an ideal situation for the defending AL West Champions. 

Oakland was reported to be in the mix for the troubled Yunel Escobar, who was shipped from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Miami Marlins in a blockbuster deal. Miami then flipped Escobar to the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. If various reports of either the aforementioned Green or top pitching prospect Brad Peacock being involved in a potential Escobar deal, I think it's safe to say Oakland was smart not to part with one of them. 

Other reports seem to indicate that the Detroit Tigers, who are interested in Stephen Drew, would then flip Jhonny Peralta to the A's for prospects. I wouldn't exactly take those reports too serious at this point considering that they also indicate Jemile Weeks could be involved in a possible Peralta trade. Why Oakland would even consider such a thing (not saying they are) is beyond me. 

A much more likely scenario would be Oakland going with Japanese star Hiroyuki Nakajima on a one or two year free agent contract. He wouldn't cost more than $5MM per season and seems to fit what Beane and company covets the most from that position. The 30-year-old shortstop is averaging over 18 homers over the last five seasons playing in the Japan Pacific League; one of the top levels of competition in the country. 

He also wouldn't cost Oakland the prospects that all small market teams covet. 

Chris Biderman, who covers the A's for Scout.Com, rightly points to Coco Crisp as a possible trade nugget in order to acquire a shortstop. As he pointed out, Oakland did pick up Young earlier in the season and seems to have a surplus of outfielders at this point. The market, depending on how it plays out with Josh Hamilton and Michael Bourne, Oakland could easily receive a coup in return for Crisp. After all, his value should be pretty high after a great second half and postseason run. 

With that in mind, Oakland would probably have to get a third team involved in a Crisp trade in order to bring a shortstop back in return. Most teams out there looking for a centerfielder don't have, or are not willing to, part with a shortstop Oakland would want. Tampa Bay, who lost B.J. Upton to the Atlanta Braves earlier in the offseason, could be a fit for Crips. That said, the A's wouldn't want a lackluster hitting Sean Rodriguez in return and the Rays probably wouldn't be willing to part with Elliot Johnson. 

The Seattle Mariners are also looking for a centerfielder and are currently in the Hamilton sweepstakes. However, the only viable shortstop they have in the majors is Brendan Ryan, who hit below the mendoza line last season. Nick Franklin, who played in Tacoma of the PCL, could be an option in a possible Crisp swap to Seattle. I just don't see general manager Jack Zduriencik trading a 2009 first-round pick to a division-rival. 

Oakland could, of course, get into a bidding war for Cleveland Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who appears to be on the market. Short of biting the proverbial bullet and giving up a couple top-tier pitching prospects, the A's will not be able to acquire the services of the former All-Star. Despite the fact that Beane has stated he will not trade any of his young starters for a shortstop, he might actually have to go that route in order to get one of substance. 

You get where I am going here. The A's are seemingly running out of options. They cannot and will not go into the 2013 season with a weak option at shortstop and be viable contenders in the AL West. 

This is why I expect Beane to get something done. 

Two possible, yey unlikely shorstops that is flying under the radar for Oakland are Texas Rangers prospect Jurickson Profar and former AL All-Star Elvis Andrus. Rangers Jon Daniels wouldn't flip either to the team that beat them out for the AL West Title in 2012, but remember Beane is sneaky. 

Texas is "engaging" in conversations with the Arizona Diamondbacks for Justin Upton in case they're not able to re-sign Josh Hamilton. As you already know, Beane and Arizona GM Kevin Towers seem to have a working relationship. There isn't a written rule in baseball that precludes a team from acquiring a specific player and flipping him for more pieces. Pure conjecture, but I could definitely see something like that on the horizon. 

Either way, Beane has to have something up his sleeve. There is no way that he is going to let the offseason pass without acquiring a viable starting shortstop. Oakland is no longer in rebuilding mode, and he knows it.