We usually don’t see a lot of these – $ – when we’re talking about the A’s. They’re always $ to the Angels’ $$$$$$$$$$, no matter what facet of the game you’re talking about.

But today, it looks like the A’s are getting ready to pony up some $$$$. And it’s not on an established major leaguer – it’s on a 16-year-old 6-foot-7 pitcher named Michael Inoa.

I’ve been following the sweepstakes for the Dominican’s services over the past couple weeks and have known the A’s were in the mix. But when the signing amount reached and exceeded $3.5MM, I didn’t really think the A’s, of all teams, would come out on top. Not when the Yankees, Reds, and Rangers were the other suitors.

But it sounds like they did indeed come out on top and it’s going to be announced Wednesday.

$4.25MM is the magic number. Yeah, that’s a lot for a 16-year-old pitcher who is probably several seasons away from sniffing the majors. But what I like in this is the aggressiveness. This isn’t or passing on better talent for a cheaper option like taking Jeremy Brown in the sandwich round in ’02. This is cojones where cojones are needed.

We can’t continue to trade off superstars for young pitchers and keep recycling this team every 4-5 years. This move says that the A’s are going to be aggressive in stacking our system with our own scouting and our own $$$$.

Let’s see more of that $$$$$$, Lew. Don’t spend it all on your soccer team.