Designated hitter Erubiel Durazo will undergo season-ending surgery on his left elbow, and is expected to be sidelined an additional nine to 12 months.

Sports Weekly reported this week that despite the A's turnaround, the team is expected to let Manager Ken Macha go after the season and replace him with bullpen coach Bob Geren.

Rich Harden carried a perfect game into the eighth inning Thursday night, finishing with a masterful two-hitter in the Oakland Athletics' 6-0 victory over the Texas Rangers.

Eric Byrnes, who won over the hearts of A's fans with an all-out style of play that overcame his lack of raw baseball skills, was traded on Wednesday to the Colorado Rockies.

Mark Kotsay agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, keeping the reliable center fielder with the club through the 2008 season.

After a late-inning dugout confrontation with manager Terry Francona Wednesday night forced their hand, the Red Sox designated outfielder Jay Payton for assignment yesterday and have a deal in place to send him to the Oakland A's for reliever Chad Bradford.

The A's, despite reports to the contrary, will listen to offers for left-handed starter Barry Zito, but they refuse to trade third baseman Eric Chavez according to USA Today.

Center fielder Mark Kotsay said "things are going in the right direction" when asked about the possibilty of a two-year contract extension, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.