Mychael Urban of CSN Bay Area reports that the Oakland A’s interest in free agent pitcher Ben Sheets is very real. The team was in Louisiana yesterday to watch the right-handed pitcher throw.

Urban suggests the A’s sign Sheets which would give Oakland a nasty one-two combo of Justin Duchscherer and Sheets if they remain healthy. The A’s can then put one of their back end starters, Gio Gonzalez or Vin Mazzaro, on the trade market along with outfielder Travis Buck. These moves would give the A’s the flexibility to add a young infielder such as Yunel Escobar of the Atlanta Braves. According to Urban, it was rumored awhile back that A’s GM Billy Beane wanted the 27-year-old shortstop, and it’s shown over time that Beane eventually gets his man.

With the addition of Sheets and Escobar, the A’s could compete in the tough AL West.