OAKLAND, Calif. — (AP) — The Oakland Athletics have offered salary arbitration to free agent outfielders Josh Willingham and David DeJesus.
Both players have until Nov. 30 to decide whether to accept the offers. If they decide to sign elsewhere, would Oakland draft-pick compensation next June.
General manager Billy Beane has acknowledged it could be difficult to sign his own free agents given the team’s unsettled ballpark situation. A’s owner Lew Wolff wants to move the team to San Jose but is waiting for word from Commissioner Bud Selig.
Willingham had career highs of 29 home runs and 98 RBIs — most by an A’s player since Frank Thomas’ 114 in 2006 — and likely will have plenty of suitors.
DeJesus batted a career-low .240 with 10 homers and 46 RBIs in 2011.
