Athletics rumors: Oakland a "notable presence" at Hector Olivera's third showcase

The Athletics were "among those with [a] notable presence" at Hector Olivera's third showcase game, tweets Baseball America's Ben Badler from the Dominican Republic air force base. With the A's, Badler also noted scouts from the Dodgers, Giants, and Padres. This will be Olivera's final open showcase, Badler reports.

Badler sighted Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and Vice President of Baseball Operations Josh Byrnes in attendance. The presence of high-ranking officials can at least partly be ascribed to MLB's international showcase in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday, which Badler also attended. In an interview with bloggers on Sunday, A's assistant general manager David Forst noted that assistant general manager Dan Kantrovitz and director of professional scouting/baseball development Dan Feinstein were headed to the Dominican Republic that day.

With recent changes to U.S. and MLB policy regarding the requirements to be considered cleared of federal government economic sanction restrictions, Olivera effectively only needs to be declared a free agent by MLB to become eligible to sign. This declaration is expected shortly, Badler tweets.

Ben Badler offered some observations on Olivera's successful day on the Dominican diamond:

Nice bat speed and power display from Hector Olivera in BP. Went deep to RF, dead CF and hit a bunch of balls out to his pull side.

— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) February 11, 2015

First two at-bats for Hector Olivera: HBP then ropes a line-drive double to left field. Andrew Friedman, Josh Byrnes both here from Dodgers.

— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) February 11, 2015

Opposite field single for Hector Olivera, who's reached base in all three PAs so far today.

— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) February 11, 2015

Hector Olivera walks, then smokes a double into the RCF gap. He's reached base in all five PAs today. Tremendous day for him.

— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) February 11, 2015