The Oakland Athletics are seriously trying to get over the hump. After a season that saw them without a losing record for the first time since 2006, they’re making the moves now that might help them get above the .500 mark and back to the postseason. With the continued success of the Angels and the sudden emergence of the Rangers, the Athletics certainly need to become more competitive if they hope to stay above water next season.

The Athletics won the rights to negotiate with Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma and will now try to reach a deal that will bring the 28-year-old righty in Oakland. Iwakuma is probably not going to be a top of the rotation kind of guy in the American League, but he’s a capable pitcher able to raise the A’s pitching staff up a notch. In 201 innings in Japan’s Pacific League last season, he had a 2.82 ERA, which makes him one of the better prospects who want to play in the States.

In another move, the A’s landed David DeJesus from KC for Vin Mazzaro and Justin Marks. DeJesus will add some depth to the outfield but will be most helpful with a bat in his hands. DeJesus finished the season with a career high .318 batting average, but a thumb injury in July limited him to just 91 games. Oakland also managed to pick up Edwin Encarnacion off waivers from Toronto. Encarnacion has some pop in his bat, but his defense at third leaves a lot to be desired.

Neither Iwakuma nor DeJesus help solve Oakland’s power hitting problems. Encarnacion hit 21 homers that went largely unnoticed on the league’s most prolific home run hitting team this season, so he may be able to take some of the load off of Kevin Kouzmanoff, if the A’s keep Kouzmanoff on the roster. The Athletics need help, and GM Billy Beane is doing all he can right now to get it. So far things are looking good, but the other teams in the West haven’t even begun to retool.