According to several news outlets, including MLB.com’s Jane Lee, the Oakland Athletics have announced that they have failed to reach a deal with Hisashi Iwakuma. Iwakuma will return to the Rakuten Golden Eagles and the A’s will get their $19.1 million posting fee back.

“We would like to express our appreciation to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles for the opportunity to negotiate with Mr. Iwakuma, and we regret that an agreement could not be reached by today’s deadline,” A’s general manager Billy Beane said in a statement. “In this instance, the player was in a unique situation, being only one year away from free agency, and we fully respect and understand his position.”

Despite the unfortunate fall out of the negotiations, the A’s have made it clear to Iwakuma, according to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser, that they will have interest in him next year when he’s a free agent.