The status of Hisashi Iwakuma is currently up in the air. He’s facing a 9pm PST deadline tonight.  Here are the latest rumors:

– Sources close to The Mainichi Daily News say that Hisashi Iwakuma has decided to return to to the Rakuten Golden Eagles rather than agree to a deal with the Oakland Athletics. The sides have until 9pm PST this evening, December 6 to come to an agreement. Iwakuma appearas to have lost his motivation to play for the team after questioning its seriousness to sign him.

– Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle says that sides are still talking.

– Jon Heyman of Sports Illustarted said that there’s no movement in the last day. “Its getting late,” notes an interested party.