A's pick up option on Balfour, buy out Drew

OAKLAND – The A's exercised their $4.5 million contract option for closer Grant Balfour on Monday, while the American League West champions declined their half of a $10 million mutual option for shortstop Stephen Drew.

Drew receives a $1.35 million buyout, though assistant general manager David Forst said the team would continue to try to sign him.

General manager Billy Beane all but said when the season ended in a five-game division series loss to the Detroit Tigers that he would keep Balfour and do all he could to maintain the current roster.

"It's great," Balfour said. "I would like to stay longer. Hopefully, we can work something out. We are young and have a lot of good times ahead for the Oakland organization and the fans."

Balfour, a 34-year-old right-hander from Australia, went 3-2 with a 2.53 ERA and 24 saves in 75 appearances spanning 74 2/3 innings during his second season with Oakland and ninth in the majors.

He began the season as the closer, lost the job, then earned it back down the stretch as the A's returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Oakland swept the Texas Rangers in the final three games of the season to capture the A.L. West.

Drew, acquired in an August trade with Arizona, batted .250 with five homers and 16 RBIs in 39 regular-season games for the A's. He took over at shortstop, and Cliff Pennington shifted to second base. Beane later traded Pennington to Arizona for outfielder Chris Young.

Beane's plan is for Scott Sizemore – out all season following knee surgery after he was injured on the first day of full-squad spring training workouts – to return to his natural spot at second, so there is a hole to fill at shortstop for now.

Oakland had the lowest payroll in the major leagues at $59.5 million.

Also, right fielder Josh Reddick and third baseman Brandon Inge are top-three finalists for Gold Glove awards, which will be announced at 6:30 p.m. today on ESPN2.

Yankees – New York exercised $15 million options on second baseman Robinson Cano and center fielder Curtis Granderson.

Cano hit .313 with 33 homers and 94 RBIs during the regular season, and Granderson hit 43 homers and drove in 106 runs but had a career-low .232 average and a career-high 195 strikeouts.

Cano batted .075 (3 for 40) in the playoffs with no homers; Granderson was 3 for 30 with 16 strikeouts.

Phillies – Catcher Carlos Ruiz will be paid a career-high $5 million next season after Philadelphia picked up his 2013 option.

Ruiz is coming off the best year of his career. He established career highs in batting average (.325), doubles (32), home runs (16) and RBIs (68) despite missing 32 games because of a partial tear in his left foot.

The $5.5 million option on third baseman Placido Polanco was declined. He'll receive a $1 million buyout. The Phillies also declined options with utility man Ty Wigginton and reliever Jose Contreras.

Dodgers – Los Angeles declined options on first baseman Juan Rivera ($4 million), right-hander Todd Coffey ($2.5 million) and catcher Matt Treanor ($950,000).

Twins – Minnesota declined a $9.25 million option on right-hander Scott Baker but is interested in keeping him at a lower salary. Baker missed the season because of a torn elbow ligament.

White Sox – Catcher A.J. Pierzynski filed for free agency.

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