Last week, Oakland signed RHP Keichi Yabu to a one-year, $1M contract that includes a $250,000 buyout on a $1.5M option for 2006. After pitching for the Hanshin Tigers of the Japanese League for the past eleven years, Yabu decided to pursue a major league career. The 36-year-old's Japanese numbers suggest he possesses solid control, though he is not a strikeout pitcher. Oakland will decide in spring training whether to use Yabu as a starter or reliever. He possesses experience in both areas. However, I suspect that even if he manages to break camp in the rotation, he will move to the bullpen before the season ends. Yabu never started more than 24 games in a season in Japan and averaged less than 20, meanwhile the A's should want to make room for their young starters.