OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—The Big Hurt is coming back to the Bay Area.
The Oakland Athletics agreed to terms Thursday with designated hitter Frank Thomas, who was released Sunday by the Toronto Blue Jays to become a free agent after becoming disgruntled about his playing time.
Thomas was in the lineup for the A’s series finale against Minnesota, batting cleanup as the designated hitter.
Oakland will be on the hook only for about $337,000—a prorated share of the $390,000 minimum—so this move was a bargain for general manager Billy Beane and a club looking to boost its power numbers.
To clear roster room, the A’s placed outfielder Travis Buck on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19 with shin splints and transferred six-time Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez to the 60-day disabled list.
The 39-year-old Thomas, who will get the vast majority of his $8 million salary this year from the Blue Jays, is hitless in his past 13 at-bats and had gone 4-for-35 since homering in three straight games April 5-8. Known as a slow starter, he batted .167 with three homers and 11 RBIs for Toronto this year.
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