Canseco Reunited with Bash Brother

The Bash Brothers are together again.

Jose Canseco returned to the Oakland Athletics in a trade from Boston on Monday and will be reunited with Mark McGwire, with whom he formed one of the most explosive combos in baseball in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

With Canseco and McGwire combining for 200 homers in 1988-90, the A’s won three consecutive American League pennants. Canseco had five seasons of more than 30 homers for Oakland, including 44 in 1991 and 42 in 1988.

“If McGwire and myself can stay healthy the whole year, I think definitely we’re going to win our division,� Canseco said. “Potentially we can lead the league in home runs.�

Canseco was sent back to Oakland for right-handed pitcher John Wasdin, who was 8-7 with a 5.96 earned-run average last season in 25 games, 21 of them starts. The Athletics also got cash, apparently to pay part of Canseco’s $4.5 million base salary this season.

A’s assistant general manager Billy Beane said Boston was paying the Athletics more than $500,000, but would not be more specific about the amount.

The trade had been anticipated for several weeks. The outline of the deal had been in place since last week, but Canseco first had to undergo a physical exam.

Hampered by back, hip and hamstring problems, Canseco missed nearly 40% of Boston’s games since he was acquired from Texas to be the Red Sox designated hitter in 1994.

Canseco passed a physical exam Monday given by the Florida Marlins’ team physician and then played golf with A’s General Manager Sandy Alderson as the deal was finalized.

Canseco, 32, had asked the Red Sox for a trade after they fired his close friend, Manager Kevin Kennedy, after last season.

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Terry Pendleton joined the Cincinnati Reds in a deal the team hopes will bring veteran leadership to the clubhouse without necessarily shaking up the infield.

Pendleton, 36, a switch hitter, agreed to a minor-league contract that guarantees him $350,000 but could bring him as much as $1.4 million.

The complicated contract states that the Reds may opt before March 10 to increase his base salary to $600,000. If they don’t, Pendleton may terminate the contract at any time from March 10-24.

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The Boston Red Sox re-signed closer Heathcliff Slocumb to a one-year contract. Slocumb went 5-5 with 31 saves and a 3.02 ERA in his first season with Boston last year. He set career highs with 75 appearances, 83 1/3 innings pitched and 88 strikeouts.

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He’s at Home in Oakland

Jose Canseco was traded by Boston to Oakland Monday, the team he has had the most success with. A look at how his average season in Oakland compares to his average season elsewhere: *--*

Team G R H 2B HR RBI AVG Oak. 136 87 137 24 33 103 .268 Tex. 97 63 99 19 23 76 .269 Bos. 99 66 113 14 26 82 .288

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