Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - The Oakland Athletics avoided arbitration with pitcher Chris Resop, signing the reliever to a one-year contract on Thursday.

Resop spent last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates and posted a 1-4 record with a 3.91 earned run average, 46 strikeouts and 24 walks in 61 relief appearances.

He was then traded to Oakland on Nov. 30 in exchange for pitcher Zach Thornton.

A veteran of seven major league seasons, Resop has had stints with the Marlins, Angels, Braves and Pirates. He has a career 9-11 record with a 4.51 ERA and 191 strikeouts against 103 walks.

Resop joins a good bullpen corps for the defending AL West champs which includes Grant Balfour, Jerry Blevins, Pat Neshek, Sean Doolittle and 2012 All Star Ryan Cook.

The Sports Network