*A's ink veteran IF Velarde to one-year deal*
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OAKLAND (Ticker) -- Randy Velarde apparently has opted for one
more season. 

After intimating this postseason that he would retire, the
veteran infielder Velarde agreed to a one-year contract with the
Oakland Athletics on Friday. 

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but the
39-year-old Velarde earned $3.15 million last season. 

Velarde returns to Oakland, where he spent a portion of the 1999
and entire 2000 seasons.  He hit .331 in 61 games for the A's in
1999 and was the starting second baseman for the American League
West championship team in 2000. 

Oakland dealt him to Texas following the 2000 season and the
Rangers shipped him to the New York Yankees on August 31.
Between the teams, he batted .278 with nine homers and 32 RBI. 

Velarde could challenge for a starting role at second base and
might even see time at first following the departure of Jason
Giambi.  Starting second baseman Frank Menechino was a bit of a
disappointment in 2001, hitting just .242 with 12 homers and 60
RBI. 

Velarde is a 15-year veteran with a career batting average of
.278 with 98 homers and 437 RBI.  He also has spent time with
the Angels. 

To make room for Velarde on the 40-man roster, the team
designated infielder Oscar Salazar for assignment. 

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