OAKLAND -- After strongly hinting they would do so at season's end, the A's officially exercised Jed Lowrie's $6 million club option for 2018 on Thursday.
In other news, the A's also appointed Mark Kotsay as Major League quality control coach.
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Lowrie returns for another year in Oakland following one of the best of his career. A's vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane deemed it "one of the best years a second baseman has ever had in the history of this franchise here."
The 33-year-old Lowrie led the A's with a .277 batting average and totaled 49 doubles for an Oakland record, breaking the previous mark of 47 set by Jason Giambi in 2011. The switch-hitter also had career highs in walks (73) and runs (86).

His consistent production left the A's no choice but to keep him at second base through the Trade Deadline and beyond, with top prospect Franklin Barreto still waiting his turn at Triple-A.
"I want a young player to sort of push, where his performance is so good that he sort of pushes himself in," Beane said last month. "But Jed Lowrie had an absolute amazing year, one of the best years probably this side of Jose Altuve as good as any second baseman in baseball this year."
Kotsay, meanwhile, returns to the A's coaching staff after taking a leave of absence in June to attend to a family matter. After serving as manager Bob Melvin's bench coach, he will now assist Melvin's staff in all areas and also consult with the front office in other areas of the organization.