A's sign Street to one-year deal | From SF Gate: News and Information for the San Francisco Bay Area

Susan Slusser

Thursday, January 17, 2008

A's closer Huston Street signed a one-year deal worth $3.3 million on Thursday, leaving the A's with only two arbitration-eligible players, starters Joe Blanton and Chad Gaudin. Both are expected to file arbitration figures today.

Street and his representatives had been speaking to the A's about a long-term extension that would cover four years or three years and an option. Assistant general manager David Forst said that Thursday's deal does not rule out more discussions about a multiyear deal.

"The whole arbitration process is long and it's not really fun, so it's best if we agree on some numbers," Street told The Chronicle by phone. "Everyone wins, no one loses, We'd shared some opinions on a multiyear extension, we'd been in contact, but this is best for everyone right now because 2008 is taken care of. I'm extremely pleased, and we can still talk about an extension later."

A's farmhand hit by liner: Reliever Brad Ziegler, who pitched for Triple-A Sacramento last season and has been invited to the A's major-league camp, was struck in the forehead by a line drive that glanced off his glove while working at a youth baseball camp last week. Ziegler, 28, was diagnosed with a slight skull fracture, according to Forst, but he was released from the hospital that same day after a CT scan. He is expected to be completely ready when pitchers and catchers report on Feb. 13.