The return of Dollar Bills Mills

Left-handed starting pitcher Brad Mills will return to the Oakland Athletics organization with an invitation to spring training, Melissa Lockard of Oaklandclubhouse.com reports ("Oakland A's notes: Mills, Aldrete return"). Mills arrived last June 17 for the cash consideration of one dollar from the Milwaukee Brewers on June 17 and was designated for assignment to make room for Jason Hammel's arrival on July 7. He ultimately was claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Mills made three starts for Oakland in 2014, going 1-1 with a 4.41 ERA in 16⅓ innings. With Milwaukee's then Triple-A team, the Nashville Sounds, Mills was leading the Pacific Coast League in ERA with a 1.56 in 75 innings, striking out 77 and walking 18. For Toronto's Triple-A team in the International League, Mills had a 3.06 ERA in 32⅓ innings, striking out 26 and walking five.

Mills will turn 30 next March. After Sonny Gray, Jeff Samardzija, and Scott Kazmir, Mills joins a rotation battle that could include Jarrod Parker, A.J. Griffin, Jesse Chavez, Drew Pomeranz, Josh Lindblom, Arnold Leon, and possibly others.