Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle hears that the Athletics are close to signing Hideki Okajima.
It presumably would be a minor league deal. Okajima hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2011, when he posted a 4.32 ERA over seven relief appearances. The 37-year-old is coming off a stellar year for the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, as he compiled a 0.94 ERA over 47 2/3 innings.












