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MLB

Jason Giambi Returns to Oakland

Jason GiambiIt's really going to happen: Jason Giambi is going home. Mike Puma of the New York Post reports that Giambi has agreed to return to the A's on a one-year deal worth $4.5 million, with a team option for 2010 worth $5 million or a $1 million buyout. Once he passes his physical tomorrow, the deal will become official.

The A's now have a logjam at first base and DH with Giambi, Jack Cust and Daric Barton, who's now the odd man out. Still, it's not hard to see why the A's jumped on bringing Giambi back.

Pat Burrell, whose offensive numbers were nearly identical to Giambi's last year, looked like a bargain when news broke that he agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal. Billy Beane, king of capitalizing on market inefficiencies, should get the same production for almost half the price. Granted, Burrell is six years younger than Giambi, but Giambi has shown little sign of decline the last few years, at least at the plate.

Could Giambi have held out and found a better deal elsewhere? It's hard to say in this economic climate, but the fact that he's already received a $5 million buyout from the Yankees this winter likely made taking a huge pay cut (he's made over $20 million each of the last three years) a little easier to swallow.

He's atrocious in the field, and he'll likely have to play everyday with Cust occupying the DH spot, but he's a virtual lock to mash 30 home runs with a solid on-base percentage. Paired with Cust, Matt Holliday and Eric Chavez (remember him? He's ready to resume duties at the hot corner), the A's now have as much power in the middle of their lineup as anybody.

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