In a Tweet by Jon Paul Morosi and FOXSports, a source tells him that the Oakland Athletics are close to signing relief pitcher Grant Balfour to a multi-year deal.
The right-handed pitcher is a Type-A free agent, so the Tampa Bay Rays will benefit from additional draft picks should he sign with another team. However, the Oakland A's have a protected first-round pick because of their 2010 record, so should Balfour go to Oakland the Rays will receive a different pick.
Balfour was 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA in 53.1 innings with the Rays in 2010.
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