A's bring back Duchscherer

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -Late last summer, pitcher Justin Duchscherer couldn't get himself on the plane to head off for another rehab outing.

His recent divorce ate away at him. He thought he had become just like his own parents, who split up when he was a boy. He dearly missed his young son, Evan, who was across the country on the East Coast and felt like he'd failed him. Duchscherer experienced an overwhelming sense of guilt.

"I got paralyzed and didn't know what was going on," he said of trying to get on the plane. "There was a time I felt baseball was the problem."

He asked for help and feels no shame in having done so. Now, finally, the two-time All-Star is healthy in body and mind and ready to return to the mound with the team that has supported him through all the ups and downs. He's ready to get back to the top form he exhibited in 2008.

The right-hander agreed to terms on an incentive-laden one-year contract Wednesday to rejoin the Oakland Athletics after he missed all the 2009 season. Duchscherer underwent arthroscopic right elbow surgery on March 31 and later was treated for clinical depression.

"Where I am today and where I was six months ago is a lot different," Duchscherer said on a conference call. "I learned how to change my attitude and perspective on life and things and not be so hard on myself. We're human and make mistakes. I'm not a robot."

The A's are thrilled to have found a familiar face to be one of their front-line starters next season. Duchscherer credits the club for sticking with him and giving him his space to get through the personal matters.

The 32-year-old Duchscherer will receive a base salary of $1.75 million and he can earn up to $5.575 million if he reaches all his incentives and performance bonuses. The sides reached a preliminary agreement last week that was pending a physical to be finalized.

Duchscherer's agent, Damon Lapa, said the A's also were patient in allowing Duchscherer to "explore his options" with teams elsewhere, including closer to his son.

Ultimately, "familiarity and comfort was considered," Lapa said.

Duchscherer has spent the last six of his seven major league seasons with Oakland, becoming a full-time starter for the first time in his career during 2008.

Duchscherer earned his second All-Star nod that season, going 10-8 with a 2.54 ERA while pitching a career-high 141 2-3 innings. He will certainly be looking to return to that top form during the 2010 season. He has said he considered quitting baseball for good during his personal struggles this year.

A's manager Bob Geren was eager to welcome Duchscherer back into the rotation late in the season, but that all changed upon the announcement Aug. 21 that he had been diagnosed with clinical depression and was seeking treatment for the condition. Duchscherer began a rehab assignment July 26 and didn't allow a run in 11 innings over three starts before ending his comeback.

"I'm real happy that he decided to come back with us," Geren said in a phone interview. "All winter I was hoping that he would remain an Athletic. It's a perfect place for him to pitch. He's very familiar with his teammates, the town and the fans. It's really big for us to have him back and he's going to have a heck of a year. Hopefully he'll have a comeback player of the year type season."

Geren, the pitcher's first manager in the minor leagues years ago, said they have texted back and forth.

"He's pretty happy, as we all are," Geren said. "He sounds great. I think he's anxious to get started."

He can earn up to $750,000 for days on the active roster - $250,000 each for 60, 90 and 120 days of active service.

Duchscherer also can make up to $1.95 million for games started: $150,000 when he reaches 10 games started, $200,000 at 15, $250,000 at 17, $300,000 at 20, $450,000 at 25 and $150,000 each for every start from 27 to 30.

There's an additional $1.125 million to be had for innings pitched. He can earn $175,000 once at 150 innings, another $175,000 at 160, $175,000 at 170, $200,000 at 180, $200,000 at 190 and $200,000 at 200 innings pitched.

He also can earn a bonus of $100,000 if chosen comeback player of the year.

Having Duchscherer back will add a key veteran presence to a young rotation that featured mostly rookies in 2009, including highly touted Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill.

"I look forward to being a little bit of a mentor in life circumstances, too. I never had anybody to look up to or lean on," said Duchscherer, who acknowledges he never needed medication for his depression. "I learned I am who I am and sometimes we all need help with that. I surrendered to that and feel better having gone through that."

The A's finished with 75 wins for the second straight season and in last place in the AL West, losing their final seven games.

General manager Billy Beane has been busy this winter. The A's signed outfielder Coco Crisp last week and Beane acquired third baseman Jake Fox, second baseman Aaron Miles and cash considerations from the Chicago Cubs for three players.

Oakland also was included in the big four-team, nine-player swap featuring Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay that brought outfielder Michael Taylor to the A's. Oakland sent third baseman Brett Wallace to Toronto.

Also Wednesday, Oakland designated left-hander Jay Marshall for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster for Duchscherer.