Oakland, CA (My Sportsbook) - The Oakland Athletics signed designated hitter Erubiel Durazo to a one-year contract Friday. Financial terms of the deal were not released. Last season, Durazo set career highs with 22 home runs, 88 RBI, 35 doubles and ranked fifth in the American League with a team-leading .321 average. The left-handed slugger is a career .285 hitter with 90 home runs and 314 RBI over six seasons with Arizona and Oakland. The A's also agreed to a minor league contract with infielder Bobby Smith. Last season, with Triple-A Charlotte, Smith batted .272, hit 28 home runs and drove in 89 runs. Durazo was eligible for arbitration and his signing leaves Oakland with four arbitration eligible players: Eric Byrnes, Juan Cruz, Octavio Dotel and Bobby Kielty. |
