OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics signed All-Star right-hander Tim Hudson to a four-year contract extension Wednesday.

	Hudson

Financial terms of the deal, which includes a club option for 2005, were not disclosed, but Hudson was not eligible for arbitration for another two seasons. He is being paid $250,000 this season.

"This early in my career, signing a four-year deal sets me up for life," Hudson said. "It's kind of overwhelming. I'll just go out there and try to keep everything in perspective."

Hudson, 25, is fourth in the AL in wins with 13 and has a 4.79 ERA in 23 starts for Oakland this season.

"It's nice to know he's going to be around for a while," A's manager Art Howe said. "He's special. He's proven his mettle for us."

Hudson is 24-6 in 44 career starts and his .800 winning percentage is the best in Oakland history.

"Obviously I'm very happy. The organization has given me the opportunity and had the confidence in me to work something out," Hudson said. "Hopefully I can help this team out for years to come."

Contract talks began at the end of spring training, and heated up once the A's signed third baseman Eric Chavez to a four-year deal earlier in the season.

"I had to wait my turn," Hudson said. "We all signed four-year deals, so we know we'll be together for a while. That gives us a chance to build some chemistry between us."

The deal extends Hudson's contract through the 2004 season, when he will be eligible for free agency. The A's have 10 players signed beyond the 2000 season.

Hudson is the fourth player to sign a four-year extension with Oakland this season. Shortstop Miguel Tejada and outfielder Ben Grieve also signed deals earlier this year.

"When you get someone as productive as Timmy has been in his career, it's a gamble we have to take," Oakland general manager Billy Beane said. "Anybody who knows Timmy knows that they don't come any better.

"If we're going to keep these guys around as we've been saying all along (Grieve, Chavez, Tejada and Hudson), we're going to have to be aggressive and sign these guys to four-year contracts," Beane said.