The A’s exercised their option on second baseman Jed Lowrie for 2018 and also named Mark Kotsay major league quality control coach.
Lowrie, 33, set an Oakland record with 49 doubles last year, breaking the previous mark of 47 set by Jason Giambi in 2011. He ranked second in the American League and second in A’s history in doubles, falling four short of the franchise record of 53 by Al Simmons in 1926.
He also had career highs in runs (86), doubles, extra base hits (66) and walks (73) and led the A’s with a .277 batting average.