Dallas Braden won't travel to Japan with the Athletics when they kick off the 2012 season against the Mariners. Braden missed most of last season because of injury and hopes to be able to pitch for Oakland when they return to the United States. He is slated to pitch 25 fastballs off a mound on Monday for the first time since having shoulder surgery last May. "I feel great," Braden said. "I feel really strong. It's nice to know all the hard work we put into the offseason and the days you didn't want to get up and the days you didn't want to push through, you now understand why it's important to do so."