Hideki Matsui is almost certain not to return to the Angels in 2011, but he could remain in the AL West. Matsui told The Chronicle through an interpreter on Tuesday that he'd consider the A's if they called, "the same as I would for every team." Matsui said he likes the Bay Area and he noted that it has a "decent-sized Asian community."

A's closer Andrew Bailey, the 2009 AL Rookie of the Year, is set to see Dr. James Andrews on Thursday for another opinion on his troublesome elbow.

The Athletics will soon announce that they'll sign free-agent infielder Akinori Iwamura to a contract. Iwamura cleared waivers after being let go by the Pirates recently. He was the starting second baseman for the Rays when they made a World Series appearance in 2008. He would become Oakland's first-ever Japanese position player.

The A's announced they had exercised Bob Geren's contract option for the 2011 season, which will mark his fifth year at the helm in Oakland. "There are only 30 of these jobs in the world," Geren said, "so it's a real honor, obviously, to have one. To be asked back to try to bring us to that next level, it's a real privilege in my opinion." Geren optimistically believes the A's are "so close to being an elite team."

The late legendary A's broadcaster Bill King is once again up for the Ford C. Frick Award to make the Hall of Fame. Knowing King's personality, however, he wouldn't care if he posthumously made the Hall of Fame one way or another. "He would be the first to tell you," said A's Spanish broadcaster Amaury Pi-Gonzalez, who worked alongside King for 25 years. "He was a very unassuming guy. If he was here, may he rest in peace, he would say, 'Ah, come on. What do you think about the Mariners?' He would try to change the conversation."

The Athletics are looking to add a few power hitters with an eye on contending for a playoff spot in 2011. "The game is changing. There aren't guys who can hit 50 homers, but you still have to have two guys in the lineup who are threats to hit the ball out of the ballpark," second baseman Mark Ellis said. "That would make everyone else better, too. But they're not easy to find." Oakland's pitching is among the best in baseball, but they can't stay above .500 because of their offense. "It's an obvious area to address, and between now and the offseason, we'll have a number of conversations about how best to fill that need," A's general manager Billy Beane said.

The Athletics have signed Jeremy Hermida to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Sacramento. Hermida went 2-for-4 with two doubles in his debut on Friday night.