A's manager Melvin gets 3-year deal

Bob Melvin is staying put to manage in his native Bay Area and considers it the perfect fit.

The feeling is mutual for the Oakland Athletics, who announced Wednesday they had reached agreement on a three-year contract to keep Melvin as their permanent manager.

''I've been taken care of very well here,'' Melvin said. ''(General manager) Billy (Beane) has treated me beautifully, the front office has, the players have, the support staff . . . they've all made me feel like I'm at home. So I feel like this is a good spot for me.''

The 49-year-old Melvin took over in an interim capacity for the fired Bob Geren in June and has a 42-49 record after Tuesday night's 7-2 loss to the AL West-leading Texas Rangers at the Coliseum. Geren's dismissal marked the first time Oakland fired a manager during the season in a quarter century.

Melvin, a Bay Area native who played college baseball at California, previously managed the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks.

His players respect him and were rooting for his return.

''Definitely a player's manager,'' outfielder Ryan Sweeney said. ''A positive guy, he wants you to go out there and win every day like everybody does. The communication is there. He tells you the day before whether you're playing or in the lineup, so that's always good. As far as how he handles the team, all that he does has been good. . . . I've seen nothing but positive things since he's been here.''

While Oakland (69-85) is headed for a fifth straight season without a winning record or playoff berth since being swept in the 2006 AL championship series by Detroit, the A's have appreciated Melvin's leadership with a constantly changing roster of young players and his vast experience.

Melvin owns a 535-557 career managerial record in eight seasons. The A's were 27-36 and mired in a nine-game losing streak when Melvin took over.

He led the Diamondbacks to the NL West title in 2007 and also won 93 games in his rookie season with the Mariners in 2003.

Melvin was also on Bob Brenly's staff as bench coach in 2001 when the Diamondbacks won the World Series and the following year when they won the NL West. Melvin also coached for Milwaukee under Phil Garner, now an A's adviser. They worked together with the Tigers, too.

Melvin played 10 seasons in the majors as a catcher with Detroit, San Francisco, Baltimore, Kansas City, Boston, the Yankees and White Sox. He batted .233 with 35 homers and 212 RBIs in 1,955 career at-bats.

Melvin was born in Palo Alto, went to high school in Menlo Park, played at Cal and spent time with the Giants in the majors.

When he became interim manager, Melvin called it ''a dream come true.''