PHOENIX -- Right-handed pitcher Edgar Gonzalez and catcher Joel Galarraga have known each other for two days, but the fast friends already share a common goal: Neither can imagine going home right now.

Gonzalez is in A's camp looking to extend his career. Galarraga is here in search of a better life.

"This is incredible," Galarraga said. "I never thought this would happen, but it is."

Galarraga escaped from Cuba on a boat on March 18, 2007, two days before his 25th birthday, and landed in Cancun, Mexico. He made his way to Veracruz and spent two seasons playing for the Peloteros de Minatitlan in the Mexican Summer League. He eventually became a citizen of the country.

"I was tired of the baseball situation in Cuba, and I didn't have that many options," Galarraga said. "There are so many players there and so much training that it doesn't allow you to have a life to survive. My parents were living day-to-day and doing the best they could for me, but I just didn't think it was logical to keep living that way. I knew I could play, but I was not getting the opportunity."

Galarraga shined in Mexico, signed a Minor League deal with Oakland last month and joined the team this month a few days late because of visa issues. Gonzalez also missed a few days of camp with a similar issue.

"[Galarraga's] a real agile guy," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "Strong arm, good hands. He uses the whole field well. What I have seen so far is that he is very athletic. In popup drills, he made a couple of incredibly athletic plays."

The Cuban catcher still has challenges ahead of him. He has Kurt Suzuki, Rob Bowen and Landon Powell ahead of him on the depth chart.

As for Gonzalez, he signed a Minor League contract with the A's on Feb. 9 and is competing against Gio Gonzalez, Josh Outman and Jerome Williams for the fifth spot in the rotation. He also has extensive experience as a reliever.

"First of all, I know they are giving me an opportunity to compete for the fifth spot in the rotation, and it's up to me to take an advantage of it," Gonzalez said. "They want me to be a starter, and that has always been my goal, to be a starter. I am a starter. At the same time, I will help in any way I can."

Signed by Arizona in 2000 out of Mexico, Gonzalez made his big league debut with club in '03. He bounced to and from the bullpen starting in '05, going 14-21 with a 5.97 ERA in 80 career games. Last year, he went 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA with the Diamondbacks and was released. He spent the second half of the season on the disabled list with a right elbow sprain.

Technically, Gonzalez is from Monterrey, Mexico, but he still calls Phoenix home. He has fond memories of Chase Field and says lifelong friends were made while wearing Arizona's red, sand and black.

"I grew up with the Diamondbacks, and you can say they raised me," he said. "You spend seven years with one team, the first team to give me the opportunity in the United States, and you don't forget that. But that is over. I'm with a new team, and I will do what I can."

After his release, the right-hander went 4-1 for Hermosillo in seven starts with a 4.46 ERA in Mexico. Earlier this month, he gave up two hits in seven scoreless runs against Venezuela for the Mexican team in the Caribbean Series.

"My focus is winning a job here," Gonzalez said. "Being with a new team is a little strange, but you get over that when you get on the mound."

On Tuesday, Gonzalez threw three innings to Galarraga in an intrasquad game against a group of A's hitters that included Jason Giambi, Matt Holliday, Travis Buck, Ryan Sweeney and Bobby Crosby. He's not sure when he is pitching again.

"I'm really happy to be here, and I'm 100-percent ready to make this team, all my pitches are working," Gonzalez said. "I worked hard to be here."

He's not the only one.

"Everybody in the world knows what is gong on in Cuba politically," Galarraga said. "There's not money to do anything. When I began playing professionally in Mexico, it was the first time my family has been able to buy new clothes or what they needed. They dedicated their lives to me, and now it is time for me to do the same for them."