Frank Thomas, who hit 39 homers for the A's in 2006, is back with the team for the prorated major league minimum, $336,721 -- a bargain for the A's, who wanted to re-sign Thomas two years ago. Toronto paid Thomas $18 million for two seasons, however, but now the A's get the slugger for next to nothing.
Thomas parted ways with Toronto because of a lack of playing time, and the A's already have a right-handed-hitting designated hitter in Mike Sweeney, who has contributed extremely well when not sidelined by knee soreness. Manager Bob Geren said Thursday that Thomas is the team's DH and that Sweeney will get time at first base. Because rookie Daric Barton is considered the everyday first baseman, that is likely to mean reduced time for Sweeney. Thomas, however, has gotten off to a slow start, batting under .160, and it is possible if he does not turn things around relatively soon that Sweeney might get more at-bats at DH. Sweeney is a better option at first than Thomas, but Barton is clearly the A's best first baseman.
After missing five games with the knee problem, Sweeney has had five hits in the last three games, one a pinch single Tuesday night. The A's used Sweeney at first on Thursday and Thomas at designated hitter. It was an all-right-handed lineup, unusual for the A's.
Thomas went 0-for-3 but did walk twice and scored a run. Outfielder Rajai Davis made his A's debut Thursday. He started in center, had three hits and made a superb catch.
A'S 11, TWINS 2: Frank Thomas' acquisition was the big news at the Coliseum, but it was Donnie Murphy who was the big bat. Murphy banged two homers, had three hits in all and drove in four runs.
The A's scored six runs in the first as Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano didn't make it out of the inning. Greg Smith, a left-hander picked up in the Dan Haren trade with Arizona, had another solid outing to get the win.
