Charleston, S.C. - The Oakland Athletics and former Citadel baseball player Dallas McPherson agreed to terms on a minor league contract on Sunday with an invitation to major league spring training camp.

McPherson, who played for The Citadel from 1999 - 2001, has not played in the major leagues since a stint with the Florida Marlins in 2008. The Randleman, N.C. native suffered back problems that kept him sidelined during the majority of the 2007 and 2009 seasons. Last season, he signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants, but underwent back surgery in July.

The former Bulldog has 18 career home runs in the major leagues (with Florida and Los Angeles of Anaheim) to go along with 45 RBI, 21 double and five stolen bases. McPherson's career minor league numbers include 150 home runs and a .586 career slugging percentage in 608 games. In 2005, Baseball America rated him the No. 2 prospect in the Angels system behind Casey Cotchman.

McPherson is anticipated to jump in the mix for a starting position in Oakland in 2010 as they juggled several players around the infield in 2009.

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