billy beane

It seemed that the 2009 season was going to be a season of rebirth for the Oakland A's. Their money ball wizard General Manager, Billy Beane, spent the off season as one of the most aggressive clubs in the Major Leagues.

They added Jason Giambi, Matt Holiday, and Orlando Cabrera, but as the season headed south all those acquisitions were traded away at the trading deadline.

While this has been the M.O. of the A's in recent years, it really seemed that this team had turned a corner.

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.