"With Gio Gonzalez and Trevor Cahill dealt for prospects and Brett Anderson and Dallas Braden coming off major surgeries, the A's are short on established starting pitchers.

Bartolo Colon is nothing if not established.

Colon has agreed to a one-year deal with the A's, pending a physical, The Chronicle confirmed Sunday, to join an untested Oakland rotation. Besides Brandon McCarthy, possible starters - if Braden opens the season with Anderson on the disabled list - include Guillermo Moscoso, Tyson Ross, Josh Outman and Graham Godfrey."