"Coco Crisp's new two-year, $14 million deal with the A's became official Thursday, when the center fielder passed his physical. The contract, agreed upon Tuesday, includes a team option for 2014.

A's general manager Billy Beane said by phone that he remained in contact with Crisp's agent, Steve Comte, all winter because "Coco was always a guy that in the back of my mind, I hoped we'd be able to bring back."

Beane said that among other things, Crisp plays a difficult-to-fill position and strong defense up the middle remains an emphasis for the A's.

Catcher Landon Powell, designated for assignment Dec. 23, cleared waivers. Powell, Kurt Suzuki's backup, has eight days to accept or decline the outright assignment. He is unlikely to decline it because he would forfeit his $620,000 contract, and he also remains a good bet to make the major-league roster out of spring training.

Also on Thursday, the A's signed former Giants right-hander Merkin Valdez, right-hander Travis Schlichting and left-hander Fabio Castro to minor-league deals."