Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane is likely to retain several key free agents this offseason, according to the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser.
Slusser writes that the team is likely to re-sign pitcher Brandon McCarthy, a player who required emergency brain surgery after being struck by a batted ball this season. McCarthy was 8-6 with a 3.24 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 73 strikeouts in 111 innings over 18 starts this season.
Outfielder/designated hitter Jonny Gomes and the A's have mutual interest in Gomes returning in 2013. Manager Bob Melvin expects talks between Gomes and the team to start soon. He hit .262/.377/.491 with 18 home runs in 333 plate appearances this year while playing under a one-year, $1 million deal.
The A's are also expected to pick up the $4.5 million option on reliever Grant Balfour, who saved 24 games while posting a 2.53 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 72 strikeouts in 74 2/3 innings this year.
Players who may not be back with the club include Brandon Inge (with Josh Donaldson under consideration to start at third base), Bartolo Colon (suspended in August for a failed drug test) and Stephen Drew (who may decline his side of a $10 million mutual option to test the open market).
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