Who’s on First for A’s? McGwire : Baseball: He gets $28 million to stay with Oakland after being assured that the club will remain competitive.

OAKLAND —  Slugger Mark McGwire is staying with the Oakland Athletics. The free-agent first baseman signed a five-year contract with the A’s on Thursday.

McGwire, who has played his entire major league career with the A’s, said the $28-million deal included a $7-million signing bonus.

“It’s pretty close to what I was looking for, so I’m very, very happy with it,” McGwire said in a conference call.

The package matches the deal signed Monday by McGwire’s teammate, outfielder Ruben Sierra.

McGwire had rejected salary arbitration but was allowed to negotiate with his former club through Jan. 8.

He said that there were times during negotiations when it appeared he would be leaving the A’s, particularly going into the winter meetings when the team made it clear cutting payroll was a priority.

“Now, I’m sure the payroll is over $30 million. Now, the thing is they have one hell of a team,” he said.

The A’s lost starting pitchers Dave Stewart and Mike Moore to free agency before moving to preserve what remained of the core of last season’s division-winner.

The club re-signed pitcher Ron Darling and catcher Terry Steinbach. Designated hitter Harold Baines and the A’s also agreed to arbitration to settle his 1993 contract.

McGwire said the A’s will miss such players as Stewart and Carney Lansford, who retired, but he believes the team will remain competitive.

McGwire said he had serious discussions with three other teams: the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox.

“I was real close to going to Boston,” McGwire said.

McGwire, 29, hit 42 home runs, second in the American League, and made $2.65 million last season on a one-year contract. Only Texas’ Juan Gonzalez hit more homers, 43.