From The Associated Press

PHOENIX — For the first time in his professional career, Chad Gaudin came into spring training knowing his role. He also knows it’s just another adjustment.

Barring something crazy, Gaudin will make his first Opening Day roster although he’s already pitched for three major league teams.

Gaudin came to Oakland as a starter. He made his Athletics debut as a relief pitcher and his success in a career-best 55 appearances (4-2, 3.09 ERA) last season convinced A’s manager Bob Geren to keep him in the bullpen.

“I’m here to do whatever,” said Gaudin, who turns 24 on March 24. “If I go two or three innings, or just one, whatever it is; we’re all on the same page here.”

The A’s acquired Gaudin in a trade from the Toronto Blue Jays in December of 2005. He was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2001.

Primarily used as a reliever, Gaudin started 10 games for the Devil Rays and Blue Jays between 2003-05.

He started last season in the rotation at Triple-A Sacramento, and after allowing one earned run in 241⁄3 innings, he was brought up to bolster the A’s bullpen.

“Coming out of spring training (last year) he had to prove he could pitch at this level,” Geren said. “When he first came up he was in a lesser role but he developed into a middle- and late-inning guy.”

Gaudin has become an important part of a relief corps that Oakland GM Billy Beane has built to match that of AL West rival Los Angeles Angels, which is generally considered the best bullpen in baseball.

“When I was called up as a reliever it’s always an adjustment but it wasn’t brand new,” Gaudin said. “That made it easier to adjust. Ultimately the main thing is to get outs. We have great depth and great minds in the bullpen.”

Gaudin was used three days in a row by the A’s on three separate occasions and once appeared in five games over a seven-day span. He recorded his first major-league save with four innings of work and won his last four decisions.

Gaudin pitched better in the second half of the season, with a 2.10 ERA over his final 30 appearances. He did not allow a run in his first 20 games after the All-Star break, which covered 202⁄3 innings, the longest streak by an A’s reliever in 12 years.

In his first camp with the A’s, Gaudin knew he would be a longshot at best to break into a starting rotation that consisted of Barry Zito, Rich Harden, Dan Haren, Esteban Loaiza and Joe Blanton.

“I still had to get ready,” Gaudin said. “I pitched to impress and I knew coming in the rotation was pretty much locked up. Last year, when someone went down, someone else came up and filled in. We overcame big things last year. We were all able to fill different roles.”

This year Gaudin knows the role for which he is preparing.