A's, Ellis agree on two-year extension
Sports Network | October 20, 2008
Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - The Oakland Athletics agreed to terms with second baseman Mark Ellis on a two-year contract extension Monday.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the new pact includes a club option for the 2011 season.
Ellis led all major league second basemen in fielding last year (.993), the second time he has done so in the past three seasons, but batted a career-low .233. Ellis drew 53 walks and stole 14 bases, both career highs, but appeared in just 117 games, which was his lowest total since his rookie campaign of 2002.
The 31-year-old, who holds Oakland records for games played by a second baseman (741) and homers by a second baseman (68), missed the final month of the season while undergoing surgery on his right shoulder on September 19.
A career .265 hitter with 70 home runs and 308 RBI in 765 games, Ellis joins third baseman Eric Chavez, whose contract also runs through 2010 with a club option for 2011, as the only Athletics signed beyond the 2009 season.
