Major League Baseball

A's and Japanese pitcher Iwakuma at a standstill

Published Nov. 21, 2010 10:39 p.m. ET

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Negotiations between the Oakland Athletics and Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma aren't getting anywhere, a person with knowledge of the situation said Sunday.

The person, who wouldn't go as far as to say talks had ended entirely, spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because it is an internal matter.

The San Francisco Chronicle was first to report Sunday that the parties were at a standstill.

Oakland won bidding rights to Iwakuma earlier this month and had 30 days to reach agreement on a contract, which no longer seems realistic. The pitcher wanted a total package comparable to the $126 million, seven-year deal signed by San Francisco left-hander Barry Zito before the 2007 season, the source said.

The A's bid was accepted by the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Pacific League under the bidding treaty between Major League Baseball and the Japanese commissioner's office.

The 29-year-old right-hander was 10-9 with a 2.82 ERA in 28 games this season with four complete games and one shutout. He struck out 153 and walked 36 in 201 innings.

In 10 professional seasons, Iwakuma is 101-62 with a 3.32 ERA and 46 complete games in 209 appearances.

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