OAKLAND, Calif. -- Right-hander Chad Bradford agreed Monday
to a $1.4 million, one-year contract and second baseman Mark Ellis
agreed to a $400,000, one-year deal with the Oakland Athletics.
The A's also agreed to a one-year deal with right-hander Tim
Harikkala, who gets $335,000 if he is in the major leagues next
season and $100,000 if he is in the minors.
The A's offered contracts to designated hitter Erubiel Durazo,
outfielders Eric Byrnes and Bobby Kielty, and right-handed pitchers
Octavio Dotel and Juan Cruz -- all eligible for salary arbitration.
If they had not been offered contracts, they would have become free
agents Tuesday.
Ellis missed all of last season with a torn labrum in his right
shoulder after colliding with shortstop Bobby Crosby in a spring
training game against the Cubs. Ellis will compete for playing time
with Keith Ginter, acquired last week in a trade from Milwaukee.
Ellis can also receive an additional $275,000 in performance
bonuses, based on plate appearances. He would get $25,000 for 250
plate appearances and additional bonuses for every 50 additional
plate appearances up to 600.
Bradford was 5-7 with a 4.42 ERA and one save in 68 relief
appearances with the As in 2004. Harikkala was claimed on waivers
from Colorado on Oct. 6 after going 6-6 with a 4.74 ERA in 55
relief appearances for the Rockies in 2004.