--SS Rafael Furcal's agent said the A's and Giants are among the suitors for the free agent. However, the agent denied a report in a Dominican newspaper that indicated the A's had offered a four-year, $48 million deal.
--RHP Chris Schroder, a minor league free agent, signed a major league deal with Oakland. The 30-year-old reliever was at one point considered a potential closer with the Nationals, but he worked only five innings for Washington last season. He posted a 3.97 ERA in 43 appearances in Class AAA. The A's have lost two experienced relievers since the end of the season, declining LHP Alan Embree's option and trading RHP Huston Street in the Matt Holliday deal. --SS Rafael Furcal is a legitimate free agent target for the A's, according to agent Paul Kinzer. Furcal is looking for a four-year deal worth more than $40 million, and the A's already have a shortstop, Bobby Crosby, but Crosby will be a free agent after next season, and the position is not an area of strength in Oakland's system. Oakland also has more money to spend than usual after salary cutbacks the past two seasons.
--SS Bobby Crosby could be expendable soon if the A's land free agent Rafael Furcal. The team has genuine interest in Furcal, and if Oakland beats out several other clubs for his services, it's likely that the A's would be willing to pick up some of Crosby's contract in order to move him. Crosby will make $5.25 million in 2009.
--RHP Ryan Webb, a 22-year-old starter, was added to Oakland's 40-man roster. Webb had an ERA of 5.14 at Class AA Midland last season, striking out 94 and walking 44, and he allowed 165 hits in 130 innings. He is unlikely to be in the mix at the big-league level, at least for the start of the 2009 season.
--C Kurt Suzuki will feel the loss of bench coach Don Wakamatsu the most keenly after Wakamatsu was named the Mariners' manager. Suzuki credited Wakamatsu, a former catcher, with the major strides he made defensively in his second season in the major leagues. Under Wakamatsu's tutelage, Suzuki established himself as one of the league's best young catchers.
BY THE NUMBERS: 112 -- The most big-league innings posted by any Oakland reliever after the team declined Alan Embree's option and traded Huston Street. RHP Santiago Casilla has thrown 112 innings in his 106 major league appearances.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's not like they're self-destructing, like Spinal Tap's drummers, but we're definitely having to find new ones every year." -- A's general manager Billy Beane after bench coach Don Wakamatsu was named the Mariners manager. Oakland is looking for its eighth bench coach in as many years.
