The A's are 46-43 and even though they're eight games behind the Texas Rangers, Bob Melvin's club is only a half-game back of the Baltimore Orioles for the American League's second Wild Card spot.

That has Oakland exploring options on how to bolster their roster -- namely at the shortstop position. Athletics' shortstops have combined to hit .189 with three homers and 19 runs batted in on the season.

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, Oakland has at least preliminary interest in Stephen Drew of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The A's, who on Tuesday begin a six-game homestand that features the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees, are not yet in serious trade discussions, sources say. But their potential targets include the Toronto Blue Jays' Yunel Escobar and Diamondbacks' Stephen Drew.

Rosenthal goes on to mention Melvin's familiarity with Drew, who he mentored with the D-backs from 2006 to 2009.

Drew, who missed nearly a calendar year with an ankle injury, was batting .205 with three RBI in 12 games entering the Diamondbacks' four-game series in Cincinnati.

The 29-year-old Drew has a mutual option on his contract for 2013 which will pay him $10 million if it's exercised. If not, he'd receive a $1.35 million buyout.