1B Jason Giambi returns to the Oakland Athletics

January 6, 2009 @ 00:00:00

By Keith Hernandez
Edited by Tim Heaney

Mike Puma, of the New York Post, reports the Oakland Athletics agreed to a one-year deal worth $4.5 million with free-agent first baseman Jason Giambi (New York Yankees) Tuesday, Jan. 6. The deal includes a club option for 2010 at $5 million with a $1 million buyout.

Giambi returns to the Athletics after spending seven years in the organization from 1995 to 2001. He will likely play first base while occasionally serving as the designated hitter.

Giambi posted a .247 batting average with 32 home runs and 96 RBIs in 145 games a year ago with the Yankees. The 37-year-old remains a power threat and should help the team with his ability to reach base and drive in runs.

Playing in the pitcher-friendly confines of McAfee Coliseum could hurt his power numbers compared to hitting with the short right-field porch at Yankee Stadium. In the last three years, though, Giambi was 10-for-33 (.303) with two home runs and five RBIs in Oakland.

Although Giambi can still be a power threat, his age and move to Oakland bring his fantasy value down. Look for him as a late-round corner infielder in deep mixed leagues.

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Keith Hernandez

Keith, an editor with KFFL, joined the team as a Hot off the Wire analyst in 2008 and has been playing fantasy sports since 2005. He is involved in MLB, NFL and NASCAR content. He graduated from the University of California-San Diego in 2005 with a B.A. in Communications and was a four-year starter as a member of the baseball program.

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