Welch Stays With A’s for Four-Year Deal

Bob Welch, the most coveted of this year’s free-agent class, remained with the Oakland Athletics by agreeing to a four-year contract Saturday.

No other terms were disclosed, but Welch reportedly was seeking, and being offered, more than $3 million a year in talks with Oakland and several other clubs after winning the American League’s Cy Young Award last season.

“Basically, I’ve followed my heart all my life, and that’s what I did this time,” Welch said. “Things came into focus this afternoon.”

Welch, 34, was 27-6 in 1990 after winning 17 games in each of his first two seasons with the club.