"The A's were the first team to give Jack Cust a legitimate shot in the major leagues.

So after the two parties went their separate ways last month, it wasn't a complete shock to see them reunite Thursday.

Cust agreed to a one-year, $2.65 million contract with the A's, supplying much-needed power that Oakland has yet to land elsewhere in free agency. Incentives could bump his earnings to $3 million.

Cust, expected to be the regular designated hitter, led the A's in homers each of the past three seasons. But when they didn't tender him a contract by the Dec. 12 deadline, the arbitration-eligible slugger became a free agent.

The A's left the door open to bring him back, and Cust credited the team for rescuing his career and said he hoped a deal might still come together.

He made $2.8 million last season and would have received a healthy raise had the A's offered arbitration, so this deal is team-friendly.

"There was a good comfort level for Jack (in Oakland)," his agent, Bobby Barad, said. "He enjoyed his teammates. It made sense for him to go back there. There was a lot of interest (from other teams). Of that interest, probably three or four legit opportunities.""