Opting against retirement, Garciaparra is on the verge of signing a one-year deal with the A's, according to major-league sources.

The deal, expected to be between $1.5 and $2 million guaranteed, will be subject to Garciaparra passing a physical.

The A's on Monday reached agreement with free-agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera on a one-year, $4 million contract.

Garciaparra, 35, will serve as a right-handed alternative to Eric Chavez at third base, Daric Barton or Jason Giambi at first and Giambi or Jack Cust at designated hitter.

The signing of Garciaparra along with Cabrera, which would leave incumbent shortstop Bobby Crosby as a $5.25 million afterthought, would be the latest indication of how serious the A's are about competing for a postseason berth.

The A's began the off-season by trading for Rockies left fielder Matt Holliday. They made a strong run at free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal and continue to speak with free-agent left-hander Dennys Reyes about a bullpen job.

Garciaparra appeared in only 55 games for the Dodgers last season due to left-calf and left-knee injuries. He spent the latter part of the off-season working out in Boston and weighing his options.

Retirement apparently was a possibility because of Garciaparra's long injury history and his desire to spend more time with his wife, former soccer star Mia Hamm, and their twin daughters, Grace and Ava, who turn 1 on March 27.

Garciaparra, a .314 lifetime hitter, has earned more than $77.4 million in his 13-year career, according to baseball-reference.com.