Chisox73
01-26-2006, 09:14 PM
A's hope to put 'Big Hurt' on rivals
Vet Frank Thomas signs incentive-laden contract
By Andrew Baggarly, STAFF WRITER
http://www.insidebayarea.com/athletics/ci_3438821
OAKLAND — During the White Sox's World Series celebration last October, Frank Thomas had a smile on his face and a plastic bag on his ankle. He couldn't let his cast get soaked with champagne.
Now, with his ankle still on the mend, Thomas hopes to be a more integral part of something big in Oakland. The former face of the White Sox franchise, Thomas signed a one-year, incentive-laden contract with the A's and will be introduced at a news conference today.
The two-time American League MVP will make a $500,000 base salary. The contract includes as much as $2.6 million in incentives based on plate appearances and staying off the disabled list.
If healthy, Thomas promises to give the A's a productive designated hitter for the middle of their order and a right-handed presence not seen since Mark McGwire.
"You could get carried away with superlatives when it comes to Frank Thomas," A's general manager Billy Beane said. "He's arguably one of the greatest offensive players of his generation. He's everybody's type of offensive player, not just ours."
Of course, Thomas' .427 lifetime on-base percentage, whichranks 14th all-time, makes him a particularly good fit with the A's philosophy. Beane met with Thomas and his agent, Arn Tellem, at the winter meetings last month and was struck by the slugger's condition and his attitude.
"He looked fantastic," Beane said. "There was a real sense of determination (from) him that was impressive to everyone in the room. He was in a great mental state. Everyone walked away fully impressed.
"He was pretty direct in saying this is where he wanted to go. ... It really wasn't that difficult putting it together. We were just monitoring his physical situation because that would give us a little clearer direction as to the financials."
Over the past 10 days, A's orthopedist Dr. Jerrald Goldman administered a series of stress tests to Thomas, and the slugger did better than expected.
Thomas has much to prove. He played in just 34 games last year, the second straight season he missed significant time with left foot and ankle injuries. He started last season on the disabled list while recovering from surgery and returned to bat .219 with 12 home runs in 105 at-bats. His season ended in July when he suffered another stress fracture in his ankle.
After the season, the White Sox paid him
a $3.5 million buyout and later declined to offer salary arbitration.
That ended a 16-year run on Chicago's South Side in which Thomas built a Hall of Fame rsum. The five-time All-Star won a batting title in 1997 and has a .307 career average with 448 homers and 1,465 RBIs.
He was the unanimous choice as league MVP in 1993 and also topped the balloting in the strike-shortened'94 season, becoming the first AL MVP to repeat since Roger Maris in 1961.
"We're happy we (won't) have to see him a lot," White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko told the Associated Press. "In the last five years, when he's been healthy, he's been doing the job. It's not a lack of skills. It's just a matter of that injury."
Beane pointed to the slugger's home run ratio last year (one per 8.75 at-bats) and suggested that the 6-foot-5, 260-pound giant is still capable of putting up big numbers.
The A's have sorely lacked a right-handed, cleanup presence in recent years — a few hot streaks from John Jaha and Jermaine Dye notwithstanding. Thomas may take some heat off Eric Chavez in the middle of the lineup.
"It's going to lend itself to a lot of thinking in the other dugout," said Beane, who compared Thomas' combination of selectivity and production to Rickey Henderson. "I think it will have a big impact."
Beane said Dan Johnson would be the first baseman, and Nick Swisher primarily would join a suddenly crowded outfield that also includes Mark Kotsay, Jay Payton and Milton Bradley.
"Having too many players is not a bad problem to have," Beane said. "(Making a trade is) not something that's on our list to do, let's put it that way."
Thomas would earn up to $1.4 million if he avoids the disabled list because of a left foot injury. He would earn payouts of $325,000 on May 1 and June 15, then $375,000 on July 15 and Aug. 15. Thomas also can earn a maximum of $1.2 million more if he makes 550 plate appearances.
Vet Frank Thomas signs incentive-laden contract
By Andrew Baggarly, STAFF WRITER
http://www.insidebayarea.com/athletics/ci_3438821
OAKLAND — During the White Sox's World Series celebration last October, Frank Thomas had a smile on his face and a plastic bag on his ankle. He couldn't let his cast get soaked with champagne.
Now, with his ankle still on the mend, Thomas hopes to be a more integral part of something big in Oakland. The former face of the White Sox franchise, Thomas signed a one-year, incentive-laden contract with the A's and will be introduced at a news conference today.
The two-time American League MVP will make a $500,000 base salary. The contract includes as much as $2.6 million in incentives based on plate appearances and staying off the disabled list.
If healthy, Thomas promises to give the A's a productive designated hitter for the middle of their order and a right-handed presence not seen since Mark McGwire.
"You could get carried away with superlatives when it comes to Frank Thomas," A's general manager Billy Beane said. "He's arguably one of the greatest offensive players of his generation. He's everybody's type of offensive player, not just ours."
Of course, Thomas' .427 lifetime on-base percentage, whichranks 14th all-time, makes him a particularly good fit with the A's philosophy. Beane met with Thomas and his agent, Arn Tellem, at the winter meetings last month and was struck by the slugger's condition and his attitude.
"He looked fantastic," Beane said. "There was a real sense of determination (from) him that was impressive to everyone in the room. He was in a great mental state. Everyone walked away fully impressed.
"He was pretty direct in saying this is where he wanted to go. ... It really wasn't that difficult putting it together. We were just monitoring his physical situation because that would give us a little clearer direction as to the financials."
Over the past 10 days, A's orthopedist Dr. Jerrald Goldman administered a series of stress tests to Thomas, and the slugger did better than expected.
Thomas has much to prove. He played in just 34 games last year, the second straight season he missed significant time with left foot and ankle injuries. He started last season on the disabled list while recovering from surgery and returned to bat .219 with 12 home runs in 105 at-bats. His season ended in July when he suffered another stress fracture in his ankle.
After the season, the White Sox paid him
a $3.5 million buyout and later declined to offer salary arbitration.
That ended a 16-year run on Chicago's South Side in which Thomas built a Hall of Fame rsum. The five-time All-Star won a batting title in 1997 and has a .307 career average with 448 homers and 1,465 RBIs.
He was the unanimous choice as league MVP in 1993 and also topped the balloting in the strike-shortened'94 season, becoming the first AL MVP to repeat since Roger Maris in 1961.
"We're happy we (won't) have to see him a lot," White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko told the Associated Press. "In the last five years, when he's been healthy, he's been doing the job. It's not a lack of skills. It's just a matter of that injury."
Beane pointed to the slugger's home run ratio last year (one per 8.75 at-bats) and suggested that the 6-foot-5, 260-pound giant is still capable of putting up big numbers.
The A's have sorely lacked a right-handed, cleanup presence in recent years — a few hot streaks from John Jaha and Jermaine Dye notwithstanding. Thomas may take some heat off Eric Chavez in the middle of the lineup.
"It's going to lend itself to a lot of thinking in the other dugout," said Beane, who compared Thomas' combination of selectivity and production to Rickey Henderson. "I think it will have a big impact."
Beane said Dan Johnson would be the first baseman, and Nick Swisher primarily would join a suddenly crowded outfield that also includes Mark Kotsay, Jay Payton and Milton Bradley.
"Having too many players is not a bad problem to have," Beane said. "(Making a trade is) not something that's on our list to do, let's put it that way."
Thomas would earn up to $1.4 million if he avoids the disabled list because of a left foot injury. He would earn payouts of $325,000 on May 1 and June 15, then $375,000 on July 15 and Aug. 15. Thomas also can earn a maximum of $1.2 million more if he makes 550 plate appearances.