with playoffs out of sight, Oakland A's now focus on offseason plans

Sep 27 Haren has signed a four-year, $12.65 million contract with the Athletics that will keep him with the club through at least the 2009 season with a club option for 2010. The righthander was acquired during the offseason in a trade with St. Louis that sent Mark Mulder to the Cardinals and Haren, Daric Barton, and Kiko Calero to Oakland. In his first full season in the major leagues, Haren is 13-12 with a 3.81 ERA and 157 strikeouts in 210 innings pitched. With Rich Harden, Joe Blanton and Haren, the A's have a solid group of young starters to build on for the future.