A's gamble on Thomas' health

By wire services
Published January 26, 2006

OAKLAND, Calif. - Frank Thomas called Oakland general manager Billy Beane to reiterate how thrilled he would be to join the Athletics.

The two clicked at last month's winter meetings, and it led to a contract for the free-agent slugger.

Thomas agreed to a $500,000, one-year deal with Oakland on Wednesday, giving the A's the big right-handed bat they've been seeking for the middle of their lineup. He will be formally introduced today.

"Frank Thomas is a presence," Beane said. "Not only would he be our type of offensive player, he would be everybody's type of offensive player. ... If Frank is healthy, he's been good against everybody."

Thomas, a two-time American League MVP who has been slowed by injuries in recent years, can make $2.6-million in bonuses based on plate appearances and the health of his left foot. He played his first 16 seasons with the White Sox, who won their first World Series title since 1917 last season.

"It's a good day," said Thomas' agent, Arn Tellem. "From the beginning, the A's were Frank's first choice if he wasn't going to go back to Chicago. Frank had a great meeting with Billy Beane in Dallas at the winter meetings, and that created a lot of momentum to getting the deal done. I think there was an instant connection between the two. They have the same philosophy.

"Frank is very excited to come to Oakland and he thinks he can contribute to a good club and help the A's win."

BOSTON - Theo Epstein and Larry Lucchino have kissed and made up.

"There were some personal conflicts," Epstein, who has returned as Red Sox general manager, said in what the team vowed would be the last discussion of the front-office dissension. "We've managed to repair the personal issues between us."

Epstein walked away from the ballclub temporarily when his contract expired on Halloween, leaving a three-year, $4.5-million extension on the table. He was rehired last week, and Tuesday came the news he would return to his old job.

Reports centered on a power struggle with Lucchino, the team president, and a desire for more autonomy, but both called it a simple falling out. Epstein said he was also upset with media leaks that poisoned his contract negotiations and threatened to damage the team's dealings with players.

WORLD CLASSIC: Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira say the United States will be as motivated as any team at the inaugural tournament and see the Americans as the team to beat.

"We'll have All-Stars two deep in the lineup, and then we'll also have a pitching staff full of All-Stars," Teixeira, the Rangers first baseman, said during a conference call. "So I think you can't go wrong with looking at the United States and calling us the favorites."

Some players have said they think the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Japan will take the tournament more seriously than the U.S. team because winning it might mean more to fans back in their homeland.

Not so, says Damon.

"I actually like our team," the new Yankees centerfielder said. "We are a fairly young team, and a lot of teams really don't know about a lot of our players. I think we can sneak in there."

NEAGLE CASE: Denny Neagle pleaded guilty to a charge of soliciting a prostitute and was sentenced in Golden, Colo., to 40 hours of community service, prosecutors announced.

[Last modified January 26, 2006, 01:02:16]