A's make strong push for SP Iwakuma. Rangers, M's also bid.

[Providence A's]

Sources: Oakland A's making big push for Japanese pitcher - MLB News - FOX Sports on MSN

The A’s could be on the verge of pulling off the first major surprise of the offseason.

The posting process for Japanese right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma closed Friday, and the A’s, Rangers and Mariners were among the clubs to submit bids, according to major-league sources.

The identity of the high bidder is not known, but the A’s are believed to have made a strong push with the idea of creating a surplus of starting pitching that would help them trade for a hitter.

I hope the A's can pull it off and then make a trade for a hitter. FAs just don't seem to want to sign there (Furcal, Scutaro, Beltre, etc.). Supposedly, Rakuten is going to accept the winning bid. The bid could be higher than $16 mil. Iwakuma is the 2nd best pitcher in Japan behind Darvish according to many.

[Kingdom]

No interest in Jose Guillen making a return eh eh eh? Yeah didn't think so.

[love_that_reefer]

At least the A's look to be spending their money more wisely than giving $10 million to Ben Sheets.

[Providence A's]

$10 mil to Sheets was less risky than all that money and years to Zito.

[love_that_reefer]

Sooooooo what does that have to do with anything?

[Providence A's]

You bring up the money to Sheets as being a waste all the time. That had nothing to do with this story either. Every team has deals that end up not working out how they thought they would. It's easy to be a Monday morning QB. Less money + less years is a lesser waste of resources than more money + more years.

Back on topic:

According to Iwakuma's agent, the A's have the winning bid.

Twitter / Don Nomura: @tommy0814 Oakland

[Providence A's]

More confirmation:

A's win the bidding for Japan's Iwakuma | MLB.com: News

A's have 30 days to sign him.

[love_that_reefer]

Sure its easy to be a Monday morning QB but giving Sheets $10 million was not one of those instances. It was just a poor decision to give someone that risky that much guaranteed money. And since it was the A's, it was relevant to the story.

[Providence A's]

It was also a poor decision to give Zito that much money for that long. It's relevant to the story because he left the A's for the Giants.

[love_that_reefer]

At least I can admit it and not revert to changing the subject

[Providence A's]

I never said it wasn't poor. It has nothing to do with this though. Hell, this could turn out to be a bad decision. Dice K anyone? I'm just glad he tries to do something unlike other GMs. You can't just wait for the farm and you can't just sit on your hands.

[love_that_reefer]

All I said it that this seems to be a wiser move than spending $10 million for one year of a pitcher who hadn't pitched in two seasons. It is relevant since you are paying $16 million for more than one year of what looks like a serviceable pitcher. Looks like a good move as opposed to last year's decision to improve the rotation. Now he needs to get some offense because the pitching isn't the problem.

[Providence A's]

Actually, they're paying $16 mil for the right to negotiate a contract with Iwakuma.

[love_that_reefer]

Oh, well then I will hold my tongue til the details on the contract are announced. $16 million just for the rights? How is this legal?

[Providence A's]

It's the same situation as Dice K.