Acording to ESPN, the Okland A’s have signed Frank Thomas to a one-year deal worth $500,000 to be their DH. $500,000?! This may end up being the steal of the off-season. I mean, sure, he’s old and coming off an injury, but he also hit 12 HR and drove in 26 runs in 34 games last year and all he’ll have to do is hit this year. I think that the White Sox, the only home he’s ever known is his 15 years of pro ball, should’ve kept them on as their DH. Is the difference between him and Jim Thome, who also has injury problems, all that great?

Between this and the Bagwell situation with Houston, where’s the reward for loyalty? Johnny Damon has clearly highlighted the reward for being a turncoat. ;-)

Edit:  Should’ve figured it’d be heavily incentivised (Yahoo! Sports). He can earn up to $1.4 million in roster bonuses if he stays injury-free and $1.2 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances.  I still think it’s a good deal for the Althetics, and I guess the White Sox didn’t want to risk arbitration, but it’s still lame of them.