OAKLAND, Calif. — The Oakland Athletics signed Mark Ellis to a two-year, $6 million contract Saturday, rewarding their second baseman for his strong comeback season last year from a major shoulder injury.

The A's avoided salary arbitration by reaching a deal with Ellis, who bounced back from a year off to bat a career-high .316 with a career-best 13 home runs and 52 runs batted in. General manager Billy Beane had been leaning toward a one-year contract for Ellis, but the sides began talking about a multiyear deal on Friday and quickly reached an agreement.

"I was almost positive it would be a one-year deal, so I was a little surprised yesterday," Ellis said while attending the team's Fan Fast festivities at the Coliseum. "I'm happy."

Ellis, expected to be Oakland's leadoff hitter after having success there last season, will earn $2.25 million this season and $3.5 million in 2007. The deal includes a $5 million club option for 2008 with a $250,000 buyout.

The A's were unimpressed when they saw Ellis during the 2004 fall instructional league, but he was a new player by spring training last year.

"After instructional league, he seemed so far away from being able to compete in a major-league game," Beane said. "What a special kid."

The 28-year-old Ellis didn't play for more than a week during one May stretch last season, and he believed he should have been on the field. In time, he worked his way back into the lineup. He wound up leading the team in hitting, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.

Ellis was the last of Oakland's arbitration-eligible players to sign.

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