The A's are among a group of teams that have checked on free agent left-hander Brett Anderson, a source confirmed to NBC Sports California.
It's unclear if Anderson will be able to attract a Major League contract offer, but Oakland would certainly prefer a minor league deal like last year.
Anderson, 30, was effective in stretches last season but struggled with injuries and inconsistency. He finished the year 4-5 with a 4.48 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 17 starts.
It looked like Anderson might have found something in August, where he allowed just two earned runs in his first 26 2/3 innings, but he landed on the disabled list soon after with a strained forearm.