OAKLAND, Calif. — Nomar Garciaparra is on the verge of choosing the Oakland Athletics over retirement.

The 35-year-old infielder could finalize a one-year contract with the A's within a few days, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the contract was not yet final.

Oakland, a late player in the free-agent market, also is close to finalizing a $4 million, one-year contract with Orlando Cabrera, who would displace struggling former AL Rookie of the Year Bobby Crosby as the team's starting shortstop.

The A's made no public comment on the ongoing negotiations. Both deals could be finalized later this week.

Garciaparra was limited to 55 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season because of injuries. He hit .264 with eight homers and 28 RBIs, but strongly considered retirement in the offseason for the chance to spend more time with his wife, Mia Hamm, and their young daughters.

But the A's have proved irresistible recently to formerly feared sluggers in their 30s. General manager Billy Beane has signed Frank Thomas, Mike Piazza, Mike Sweeney and Jason Giambi to fill holes in Oakland's often-unproductive lineup during the past four seasons, and Garciaparra seems ready to be the next addition.

Oakland's willingness to spend for Cabrera and Garciaparra after trading for Matt Holliday and signing Giambi during the winter indicates Beane believes the A's are ready to challenge the Los Angeles Angels for the AL West title. Oakland won just 75 games in 2008 after jettisoning Dan Haren, Rich Harden, Joe Blanton, Nick Swisher, Marco Scutaro and Mark Kotsay to save money and make way for the next wave of minor league talent.

A six-time All-Star, Garciaparra spent a majority of his three years with the Dodgers at first base. He also played shortstop and third base, and the A's are likely to find playing time for him at more than one position.

Garciaparra started his career with the Boston Red Sox, hitting 30 or more home runs twice and driving in 100 or more runs four times in nine seasons. He was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1997 and was second in the AL MVP voting in 1998, but is no longer the feared hitter who ranked among the game's best for a decade.

He has played in the NL since the Chicago Cubs acquired him from Boston in July 2004. Garciaparra would become Oakland's third-oldest player behind reliever Russ Springer (40) and Giambi (37), who returned to the A's after a ringless seven-year stint with the Yankees.

Crosby, who singled and scored a run in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Cubs, will make $5.25 million in the final season of a five-year contract. He was discouraged to hear about the A's interest in Cabrera, suggesting he might seek a trade.

"I'm hopeful to get a chance to play shortstop somewhere," Crosby said Tuesday. "Obviously they decided to bring in someone else. I want to play shortstop, but I don't know what the plans are."

AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum in New York and AP freelance writer Rick Eymer in Phoenix contributed to this report.