The minor league Oakland B's planned to take over the Oakland A's venue at the Coliseum for a night of nostalgia in late June — until the big league club blocked their agreement as exclusive rights holder to the building for professional baseball. Months ago, before the newly created Oakland Ballers were official and for the most part still just a big dream, co-founder Paul Freedman went back and forth by email some 70 times in an effort to secure one special game at one special venue where he and so many others hold treasured memories dating to their youths. Freedman said he and co-founder Bryan Carmel had a signed contract in place and deposit paid through communication with ASM Global, which operates the building for the Coliseum Authority — an agency leasing the ballpark to the A's through this year.

The 2024 international signing period will open on January 15 and the Oakland Athletics are expected to sign three of the top 50 prospects according to Baseball America. The Athletics have been linked to outfielder Jeremy Denaud and shortstop Edgar Montero from the Dominican Republic, along with outfielder Jose Ramos who is from Venezuela.

Last month I went to Las Vegas to see U2 at Sphere. One other thing I did in Vegas is have dinner with some friends who live there. One friend is gung-ho about the proposed Oakland Athletics move to Vegas. My friend contends that one way the Las Vegas A's will fill their ballpark is with fans of the teams coming to town.