A's re-sign Frank Thomas

OAKLAND -- The A’s signed veteran Frank Thomas this morning, bringing back a player who was one of the key pieces of their 2006 division championship team.

Thomas, who had been released by the Blue Jays over the weekend, will become the A’s everyday designated hitter, manager Bob Geren said.

The A’s will have to pay Thomas only a pro-rated portion of the major league minimum salary, about another $300,000 for the rest of the season. He will be a free agent at the end of the season.

“He looks like he’s in great shape,” A’s general manager Billy Beane said. “He had a great year here. He’s a great influence on the club. He’s a consummate pro. It was an opportunity that couldn’t be passed up.”

Thomas, 39, said he had offers from a few other teams, but his choice was to return to the A’s because he enjoyed his time here in 2006. Thomas enjoyed a comeback season then, hitting 39 homers. Last year he 26 homers in Toronto.

Thomas was hitting just .167 with three homers in his first 16 games with the Blue Jays. He said the Blue Jays released him because they didn’t want him to accumulate 304 more plate appearances, which would trigger a $10 million option for 2009. Now that option year is gone.

“I feel great,” Thomas said. “I think that start has been overrated. In my last 15 at-bats I lined out nine times. No one says that. My last 15 at-bats I swung well. As for the skills, they are still there.”

The move creates a ripple effect in the A’s lineup. It means that Jack Cust is now the everyday left fielder and Mike Sweeney is a part-time first baseman, splitting time with Daric Barton. Barton was not in the lineup today, for the first time all season, against lefty Francisco Liriano. Sweeney started at first.

Travis Buck was placed on the disabled list with shin splints to make immediate roster space for Thomas.

How the roster will shake out on a daily basis remains to be seen, but the mood in the clubhouse was that is a good problem to have.

“All those guys are great guys,” Mark Ellis said of Cust, Sweeney and Barton. “We’ve got options now. It’s nice to have options…It changes everything, having Frank in the middle of the lineup.”

You can reach Staff Writer Jeff Fletcher at 521-5489 or jeff.fletcher@pressdemocrat.com.