Balfour says A's remind him of 2008 Rays; four players sign

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From Chronicle Staff Writer Susan Slusser

As the A's try to dig themselves out of piles of paperwork, here's the latest from their busy day:

*Grant Balfour's deal, agreed upon last week, is official; two years plus an option worth a guaranteed $8.1 million. (Brian Fuentes' deal isn't likely to be announced today, but tomorrow is possible.) Balfour tells me that the A's remind him of that good, and fun, 2008 Rays team that went to the World Series because of the excellent young pitching staff, the team speed and the strong defense. "I think we're going to do well," he said.

*Outfielder Josh Willingham signed a $6 million deal, avoiding arbitration. Willingham told me this morning that if the A's would like to sign him to a long-term deal, "Absolutely, I would do that." I'm told talks on a multi-year could begin this spring.

*Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff has signed a $4.75 million deal, avoiding arbitration.

*Lefty Dallas Braden has signed a $3.35 million deal.

*Outfielder Conor Jackson also has signed in the $3 million range, but I have not yet been able to confirm the exact number. UPDATE: I've learned that the figure is $3.2 million.

*Reliever Craig Breslow remains the A's only remaining unsigned arbitration-eligible player.

The A's are going to have a packed bullpen; barring a trade, some decent relievers won't be on the Opening Day roster. Right now, it's closer Andrew Bailey, lefties Breslow and Fuentes, Balfour and Michael Wuertz - is that four set-up men? how does that work? - plus Brad Ziegler, lefty Jerry Blevins (coming off hip surgery), and Joey Devine, coming back from Tommy John surgery. Josh Outman and Rich Harden are possibilities, depending on what happens with the fifth starter spot.

I'm assuming the A's want to see Blevins and Devine, who has had an especially difficult recovery, before making decisions on them, and after non-stop injuries the past three years, they love the idea of depth. And this is shaping up to be an extraordinarily good bullpen, and the unit already was a strength of the team.

"I thought they had a pretty good bullpen already, and with myself and Brian, it's solid, I like it," Balfour said.

Willingham was particularly happy to avoid arbitration - no one wants to go to a new team and have the first interaction to be over a boardroom table, haggling over figures. And like Balfour, he's excited about the A's prospects for this season.

"I've never had the opportunity to be on a team that from spring training on is expected to put a really good product on the field that has a chance to win every day," Willingham said.

Posted By: Susan Slusser (Email, Twitter) | January 18 2011 at 11:36 AM