Loaiza agrees to three-year deal with Athletics

Nov. 28, 2005
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Esteban Loaiza weighed similar offers from the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants before choosing to stick with what felt most familiar: the American League.
The A's and the free-agent right-hander agreed Monday to a three-year contract worth nearly $21.4 million, adding an experienced pitcher to a starting rotation that already includes Barry Zito and Rich Harden.
"I landed pretty good here with a nice group of guys," Loaiza said when introduced at Oakland's ballpark. "Coming back this year to the American League, it's still fresh. ... I'm happy to be here. I'll do the best job possible for myself, for the team, my new teammates that I'm going to see at spring training. I'll give it my best and try to win a World Series."
The deal, worth $21,375,000, includes a 2009 club option. Loaiza went 12-10 with a 3.77 ERA for the Washington Nationals last season, the second-best win total in his 11-year major-league career. He won 21 games for the Chicago White Sox in 2003.
The 33-year-old Loaiza made the tough decision to turn down a similar offer -- three years without an option -- from the Giants. He has spent most of his career in the AL.
A's general manager Billy Beane made it clear that adding Loaiza doesn't mean he will trade another pitcher. There has been speculation for some time that he might deal Zito, whose contract is up after next season. Beane plans to have discussions with Zito's representatives during a "quieter time in the offseason."
"With Barry in our rotation and Esteban in our rotation, we have a chance for one of the deepest rotations in the league," Beane said.
Loaiza joins a team that has almost its entire roster returning from last season, when the A's failed to reach the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Oakland had a 91-win season in 2004 and 88 victories this year.
John Boggs, Loaiza's agent, was surprised that Beane still had serious interest in the pitcher when other teams became involved. Usually, the A's budget restraints keep them out of deals such as this.
"He kept matching blow for blow," Boggs said.
After a slow start by its young rotation, Oakland pitched well down the stretch thanks to impressive performances by rookie 12-game winner Joe Blanton and Dan Haren, a 14-game winner in his first full season as a starter.
Beane believes Loaiza complements the starters the A's already have, and the GM has had interest in Loaiza for several years. With both Blanton and Haren logging more than 200 innings in 2005, Beane wanted another starter who could take some pressure off his young pitchers.
"You can never have enough pitching," said Beane, still looking to upgrade the offense. "The good thing is he can no longer pitch against us. We think this is a great addition to an already very strong pitching staff."

Source: http://cbs.sportsline.com/