As to why the A's didn't make the union's hit list, Beane said, "It's never been an issue with us. We spend what we have. That's why you never see our name mentioned."
The A's were aggressive with certain free agents. Before signing Sheets, they made runs at infielders Marco Scutaro and Adrian Beltre, both of whom preferred Boston, and Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman, who signed with the Reds.
"We've invested in other areas, too," said Beane, referring to the draft, farm system and international pursuits (Michael Ynoa, for instance), though the union is concerned only about its big-league membership.