Athletics reward Melvin, two executives with new contracts

Manager Bob Melvin received a long-term contract extension from the Oakland Athletics, who also reached new deals with executive vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane and general manager David Forst.

The new deal for Melvin, 57, is through 2021, with a club option for 2022. Forst’s deal goes through 2023.

The A’s, who entered 2018 with the American League’s lowest payroll, went 97-65 in 2018. Their 63-29 mark from June 16 was the majors’ best, as was their 31-14 record in one-run games.

Cardinals: Right-hander Adam Wainwright, 37, became a free agent and then finalized a one-year, $2 million contract with St. Louis that allows him to make $8 million in performance bonuses as a starting pitcher, $3 million for relief appearances and $4 million more for games finished.

Mets: Agent Brodie Van Wagenen, 44, whose clients have included New York’s Jacob degrom, Yoenis Cespedes and Todd Frazier, settled on terms of a contract to become the Mets’ general manager, a team spokesman said.

White Sox: Chicago declined its $16 million option on right-hander James Shields, exercising a $2 million buyout, and exercised its $4.65 million option on right-handed reliever Nate Jones.

Giants: San Francisco exercised its

$12 million option on left-hander Madison Bumgarner and its $555,000 option on infielder Pablo Sandoval.

Diamondbacks: Arizona exercised its $14.5 million option on first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.

Nationals: Washington exercised its $6 million option on left-handed reliever Sean Doolittle.