Jason Giambi Returns to Oakland

It'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.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-07-2009 @ 12:11AM

T said...

Giambi has shown little sign of decline the last few years, at least at the plate.

uh ya

1-06-2009 @ 6:30PM

Rich LaCava said...

As a Yankee fan , from birth, I am sad to see Giambi go. He gave the team alot and he was a team player. When he was in the drug spotlight he still gave them his all . He is a class act and I wish him well in Oakland.

1-06-2009 @ 8:18PM

randall said...

Well said Rich! I echo those sentiments. Best wishes Jason

1-06-2009 @ 8:50PM

HAHA said...

He is going back where he learned to be a cheater. Yep he kept getting the steroids from the Yankees but he learned everything he knew about cheating from the Oakland A'.s

Only a Yankee fan and some dumb kid with a crush would ever appreciate the cheater Giambi was and still is.

1-06-2009 @ 8:51PM

GiambiONSteroids said...

Oh that is right. Yankee fans defend him because he cheated as a Yankee. He was on steroids back in 03 when he hit two homeruns in the 2003 playoffs to cheat and get his team to the world series.

Of course you fans stick together. Your both fans of teams that cheat to try and win. PATHETIC.

1-06-2009 @ 10:59PM

Bro said...

To the guy hiding behind "GiambiOnsteriods" name.
Don't put all Yankee Fans in the same class. It's clear who the "Pathetic" one is

1-07-2009 @ 12:04PM

James Graham said...

Im not gonna miss a part time player, Giambi had a shot at first and he sucked with the glove

1-07-2009 @ 12:52PM

JOSE said...

WHY CANT YOU PEOPLE STOP HATING AND JUST WISH THE MAN WELL??? HE WAS A GOOD TEAMMATE, ADMITTED TO HIS MISTAKES, UNLIKE ALL THE OTHER "STARS" AND WAS A MAN ABOUT HIS MISTAKES... GOOD LUCK JASON GIAMBI.. I WILL MISS YA... APPARENTLY ALL YOU OTHER BLOGGER HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING ILLEGAL OR THAT YOU REGRETTED LATER HUH?? GOTTA ALWAYS KICK A BROTHER WHEN HE IS DOWN.....