Baseball America is reporting that the Oakland A’s have locked up pitcher Michael Inoa, the prize of the international market this year.

The signing bonus is reported to be for 4.25m, over 2m more than Wily Mo Pena received as a teenager from the Yankees.  Beane reportedly coveted Inoa from the first time he saw him, and was willing to pay any amount to get him.

Well, I’ll be the first to say giving 4.25m to a 16 year old who has never pitched here in the States and has proven nothing is a little nutty. Then again, we are talking about Billy Beane here. My guess is this guy will become a Cy Young Award winner some day.

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